Horacio Salinas, “Crucibulum”, 2008

#somereallygoodones, #horaciosalinas, #theroad

This is the ultimate road trip photograph. Crucibulum is a fungus that resembles an egg filled bird’s nest; this image looks like an empty one. Salinas gathered a collection of tire treads from 18 wheeler trucks. He did a cross country drive once upon a time and rather than take pictures of roadside attractions, he collected pieces of rubber in the road, threw them in the trunk of his care then arranged them into a series of still life photographs in his studio.

The artist first came to my attention at a party when I overheard Elisabeth Biondi, longtime Visuals editor at The New Yorker quietly mention an artist she thought was a genius. A few nights later another editor said the same. A genius? He is known in the editorial and commercial photography world as a problem solver. I figured out whom they were talking about and set upon to meet him. I found his studio number, called and asked if he would come to my gallery. At the appointed hour the next day, he dutifully presented himself. I asked if he had brought any work to look at, and he said no that he thought we were meeting.

He had me at the hand shake. He didn’t know it, but I had to agree he was a genius.

The void in the center of the image is whatever you want or need it to be. That is for me, the act of genius here. You, the viewer, decide what’s there, what’s important.

Mr. Salinas worked in the studio of Irving Penn for awhile and the lessons in care, restraint, simplicity and quality in the latter are present in the former, a perfect tribute to the Master.

#somereallygoodones, #theunseeneye, #wmhunt, #collectiondancingbear, #collectionblindpirate, #greatphotographs, #howilookatphotographs, #photographsfromtheunconsicous, #sansregard, #aperture, #thames&hudson, #actesud, #collectingislikerunningaroundinathunderstormhopingyoullbehitbylightning, #aphotographsogooditmakesyoufartlightning, #photographychangeditlifeitgavemeone, #horaciosalinas, #theroad