Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Patti Smith

The singer/photographer/poet Patti Smith was at the Wadsworth Atheneum last week.  An exhibition of her photographs opened on Friday.  She was present to sell and sign her recent book Just Kids, a biography that focuses on her youth, when she and her lover, the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe, were starting out in the New York art scene.  She was placed in a corner, in front of a disturbing Magritte painting of a female head with blood on it.  Inspired.

I came along near the end of her book signing, when she was tired and told the staff "no more pictures."  Fortunately, I can look in one direction, aim the camera elsewhere, and stealthily push the shutter button undetected.

The exhibition was also closed to photographs, so I took a shot from outside the room.  Since Mapplethorpe was best known for his homoerotic photographs, the placement of a nude male statue to guard the room was also inspired.  It is Statue of a Youth by Gaston Lachaise.

Her photographs are very small, perhaps 2" x 3", so I didn't miss much by not taking photos inside the exhibition rooms.

at

35 comments:

  1. Dave-CostaRicaDailyPhoto.comOctober 25, 2011 at 7:07 AM

    I think you have given us the benefit of your stealth camera skills in this museum once before.

    I look forward to the exhibition that is a retrospective of the best photography of Hartford Daily Photo.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Bruce ClarkOctober 25, 2011 at 7:16 AM

    Interesting images and I always enjoy the stories with your shots. Jack did you use a flash in these shots?

    ReplyDelete
  3. KateOctober 25, 2011 at 8:59 AM

    Did you buy a book or did you just look? I dub you "super stealth sleuth!"

    ReplyDelete
  4. MalyssOctober 25, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    Patti Smith! Horses! Gloria, G-L-O-R-I-A!! OMG! All my youth! in France, she's more known for her songs than for her pictures. I liked her very much when I was 17/18..THank you for taking such pictures , they are precious!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Luis GomezOctober 25, 2011 at 9:38 AM

    Great post Jack! Really enjoyed it.

    ReplyDelete
  6. HalcyonOctober 25, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    Very cool! Did you get her autograph?

    ReplyDelete
  7. T. BecqueOctober 25, 2011 at 9:49 AM

    Wow, that would be pretty neat to see and meet her! Nice job on your sleuth type photography!

    ReplyDelete
  8. RandyOctober 25, 2011 at 9:53 AM

    I would have loved to have been there. I just picked up that book too.

    ReplyDelete
  9. SharonOctober 25, 2011 at 9:58 AM

    Nice job with the sleuth photography. I admire your style. I haven't heard of this book so I think I'll do a little research today.

    ReplyDelete
  10. PerthDailyPhotoOctober 25, 2011 at 10:25 AM

    That's a handy talent you have there in certain situations Jack, can only imagine the strange pictures I'd get if I tried it!!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Sylvia KOctober 25, 2011 at 11:50 AM

    I do love the results of your stealthy photography, Jack! Interesting shot from outside the room. Also interesting is how small her photographs are???? Easy to see that you didn't miss much! Enjoy your day!

    Sylvia

    ReplyDelete
  12. KarlOctober 25, 2011 at 11:59 AM

    Interesting story Jack, and nice shots too.

    ReplyDelete
  13. DawnOctober 25, 2011 at 1:12 PM

    Sneaky Jack. I need to hire you as a P.I. for something;)

    ReplyDelete
  14. RedPatOctober 25, 2011 at 1:34 PM

    Jack the secret agent! Nice ones.

    ReplyDelete
  15. GunnOctober 25, 2011 at 2:48 PM

    Well done, Jack!:)

    ReplyDelete
  16. LowellOctober 25, 2011 at 3:11 PM

    How very interesting. Why in god's name, 2X3? Maybe they're no good blown up? Sheesh. It's like she doesn't want anyone to see them!

    You are even sneakier than I am!

    And re your comment about drinking: In my mind I'm always in Paris so I can drink any old time I so desire! Ha, ha!

    ReplyDelete
  17. MoOctober 25, 2011 at 3:13 PM

    Interesting post. I'd have enjoyed her meeting. Did you buy her book? I imagine it would be rather interesting. She should be used to lots of pictures being taken of her after her last life. Glad you were the Sleuth photographer

    ReplyDelete
  18. VPOctober 25, 2011 at 3:15 PM

    I like some of her music, but I still wonder at what some people found of interesting in the 'works' of the late Mapplethorpe. You did well taking her picture...

    ReplyDelete
  19. cieldequimperOctober 25, 2011 at 3:55 PM

    Not a Mapplethorpe fan either. Did you enjoy her exhibition?

    You, as a photographer with special techniques ;-),were very inspired!

    ReplyDelete
  20. KayOctober 25, 2011 at 4:17 PM

    I'm guessing that's a reflection of you in the glass next to the Magritte painting. . .unless I'm missing the artistic merit of a security guard and a man looking in another direction. . .and, I agree with Lowell: 2x3 photos? Anyhow, thanks for sharing your brush with fame.

    ReplyDelete
  21. MichelleOctober 25, 2011 at 4:52 PM

    Well, sneaky you! Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  22. jennyfrecklesOctober 25, 2011 at 5:03 PM

    She looks as though she has lived! I can't say I know much about her but I envy anyone who can be a singer, photographer AND poet. So much talent in one person! Did you buy the book?

    ReplyDelete
  23. John "By Stargoose And Hanglands"October 25, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    So those who used to live such a wild, reckless life are now tired after sitting down signing a few books. How sad.
    You say the photos were small, but are they any good?
    An interesting post, Jack.

    ReplyDelete
  24. PetOctober 25, 2011 at 5:25 PM

    Patti Smith! I would have loved to be there.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Regina KOctober 25, 2011 at 5:57 PM

    You are such a sly man, great info and photo.

    ReplyDelete
  26. youth_in_asiaOctober 25, 2011 at 6:56 PM

    Really inspired stuff today, Jack. Nice sneaky photography too.

    ReplyDelete
  27. VirginiaOctober 25, 2011 at 10:10 PM

    I love a good stealth photographer. Never let 'em see you click I always say. Nice work Jack Photo.
    V

    ReplyDelete
  28. Stefan JanssonOctober 26, 2011 at 4:36 AM

    Cool. She was in Stockholm a while back when she received the Polar Award.

    ReplyDelete
  29. HaddockOctober 26, 2011 at 5:43 AM

    Aha so you click like me "look in one direction and click in another" :-)

    ReplyDelete
  30. CindyOctober 26, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    Nice sneak shot! I do that sometimes, too. It's nice to see what Patti Smith is up to.

    ReplyDelete
  31. UnknownOctober 26, 2011 at 4:23 PM

    Sneaky!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. CildemerOctober 26, 2011 at 7:18 PM

    Wow! Great catch! And unnoticed too! Well done, Jack!
    Thanks for sharing;o)

    ***
    Have a nice and happy day****

    ReplyDelete
  33. LynetteOctober 27, 2011 at 12:06 AM

    Gosh, Jack, you're a hoot! I adore this post! Adore it. Thanks for being so stealthy.

    ReplyDelete
  34. nathalieOctober 27, 2011 at 3:16 AM

    Your post is makes for a very interesting read, it's very funny too - great lesson in discreet photography! I'll have to learn to practice that.

    PS - I knew Patti Smith as a singer, not as a photographer. You mention her photos as being very small. What sort are they? Do you like them?

    ReplyDelete
  35. UnknownOctober 28, 2011 at 4:19 PM

    'THE' Patti Smith?! I used to be a big fan of hers.

    ReplyDelete