Santa's Gimp and the Amazing World (that was) Rock Photography, with Tony Mott.

Photography (that was), what a strange little blog title especially since Mr Tony Mott is still a photographer. Why the "that was"? Well because, digital photography, of course! In the lead up to this event on the 22nd of November 2015 I was reading how Tony took a year off to help look after his newborn twins; and when he took this photography sabbatical he had 182 rock mag clients on file that he sold pictures to. A year later there were just 22, and now only 3 of the original 182 left! Now of course people are as passionate about music as ever, and as passionate about rock photography as ever.. But it's all gone online, it's getting shot-and-shared by amateurs for free; and let me tell you; it's hard to make a living working for free, Q.E.D. this blog.
But great Rock 'n' Roll photographer that Tony is, he was not going to launch his A-Z of Rock Photography book on a low note, hell no; it was going to be rock-and-roll all the way with way more than just a nod in the direction of "your momma won't like it" :-) hell no - HELL NO! I ask you, what's wrong with kids today? All signing up for frequent flyer points and all that consumer loyalty shit and a free cup of coffee - You know REBELLION - is still the only cool gig in town - stop nerding, lets get back to ROCKIN'... Scroll on, because here are the players on the night.

Tony Mott at his book launch.

This is it; as it happened, more or less.. The Alphabet A-Z Rock 'N' Roll Photography - Tony Mott book launch at Leonard Mattis Studio. Accompanied by, art installations and performances by Lexi Land & Matt Format; DJ Suzie Q; Musician/Guitarist, Simon Rosa; Choreographer, Matthew Gode with Dancers, Erica Stubbs,  Ashleigh Tavares, Shivawn Joubert.

Lexi Land "Rattlesnake" performance.

Photographing, slash Filming this used to be difficult.. Digital may very well kill us all with convenience..

http://www.tonymott.com/
http://leonardmattis.com/blog/leonard-mattis-blog/tony-mott/
http://lexiland.tumblr.com/
http://mattformat.com/

Yes it took me weeks and weeks and well, weeks to get these pictures edited to the point I was happy with; and from such a HUGE selection. It was such a great night and so visually interesting. Hope you enjoy, go buy the book!

Telling Stories in Pictures all over Sydney..

Kent Johnson, Sydney, Australia.

0433 796 863

kent@artcommunication.com.au

www.kentjohnsonphotography.com.au

www.fashionphotographysydney.blogspot.com/

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Deeper into a Surrealist Bodyscape - Lexi Land's 'Illuminating Darkness' 2013

Last Thursday evening saw the launch of Lexi Land's much anticipated 2013 solo exhibition "Illuminating Darkness" at Leonard Mattis Studio in Sydney's Surry Hills. Much anticipated? Yes I think so, and certainly not only by me after last years successful "Pieces of Me" exhibition shown at the same venue. Lexi has the great sense or is it marketing genius of dropping hints-of-her-new-works; and the occasional completed image onto her facebook page so we all have some idea of where she is going with her next show; which on this occassion seems to be deeper into a DADAist or Surrealist trance and spiritual collaboration with the likes of Man Ray and Kurt Schwitters; all the while becoming her very own auto-manipulated and life-size Hans Bellmer doll.

The evening began in darkness with guests being asked to view the artworks with tiny LED torches and three hours later the evening concluded in the same vein, at which time I took the opportunity to not only photograph a small sample of the works by torchlight (including a shadowy self portrait reflected in Lexi's glory) but also some portraits of the as-always wonderfully-dressed and styled Lexi herself using the very same torchlight for illumination.  "Illuminating Darkness" from now until the 26 of October, details below..

ILLUMINATING DARKNESS
DISSECTED DREAMSCAPES OF A LUNARTIC

Leonard Mattis Studio
8 Fitzroy Place, Surry Hills, Sydney, Australia

26TH SEPTEMBER - 25TH OCTOBER

HOURS:
Mon/CLOSED
Tues/Thursday 10am - 8pm
Wed/Fri/Saturday 10am - 6pm

Lexi Land on Facebook
Leonard Mattis Studio on Facebook

Street Fashion Sydney - shot with the Fujifilm X-Pro1 

Lives of the Artists - Career Points - Ruark Lewis & Lexi Land

It's only been in thinking about how I was to write a post or posts about these two artists, Ruark & Lexi; that I realised I can curate, in a real, not the hipster sense a relationship between an artist having their mid career Survey exhibition, which is something quite momentous in the life of an artist - and I could this week at least share & show another artist experiencing that other landmark art moment, the first, the tricky second solo show. And while it might be very nice for these two artists to meet in person and I think that can probably be arranged; I also think its very nice to have these two shows together here; both artists I have know for more than a few years and although they produce very different work; I think in her own way Lexi is as much a gifted student and practitioner of the avant garde as Ruark is master of the same; and both have words, words/poems as a significant part of their oeuvre. The Ruark Lewis Survey show requires a pleasant train ride and very short walk, or (perhaps less pleasant drive) to the Hazelhurst Gallery in Gymea. Lexi Land's 'Pieces of Me' is on show at Leonard Mattis Studio in Surry Hills - go see, enjoy the art, and maybe help Lexi on her way with a carefully timed art purchase.

Lexi Land ' Pieces of Me' opening night. 

Not just the art, Lexi's and her art loving friends turned on their own fashion tour de force.

Ruark Lewis
Hazelhurst Gallery

Lexi Land
leonardmattis.com/pieces-of-me-2/

All images made with the Fujifilm X-Pro1.