International Center Of Photography
NYC

January 19 - 22, 2010

"The Nature of Documentary Work"
The Long-Term Documentary Project

Junior, 1986, Rocky Hollow

Within this four day workshop/seminar the student is invited to explore and examine the constructs of what documentary is today and how it has changed and survives in the post-modern world.

Each student will have an individual private critique [approx. 15 prints] examining there work in context to developing personal vision, style and approaching a unified portfolio.

The instructor will share his work in as personal and insightful a manner as the class evolves. Both black & white traditional and color digital prints will be shown and discussed. From now 36 years of working within his native community of Eastern Kentucky [Appalachian Mt. Region] he will discuss sensitive issues and share examples from the media and his own work relevant to the documentary tradition: exploring exploitation, stereotyping, intimacy, relevancy of change, truth and betrayal, among other topics.

Many contemporary photographers will be studied: Richard Avadon's-The American West, Diane Arbus, Disfarmer, O. Winston Link, Irving Penn's-New Guina work, Roger Ballen, Mark Laita, Nick Nixon, Mary Ellen Mark, Fazel Sheikh, Simon Norfolk, Paul Shambroom, among others.***New Addition- we will also study the work of Robert Bergman. Some contemporary film clips will also be show, studied and discussed.
To end the week we will discuss marketing, breaking into the field, book projects, magazine work, photo competitions, Internet promoting your work, etc.
As a theme to interweave throughout the week we will daily discuss content and emotional connection. The book by Sally Planalp, "Communicating Emotion." will be discussed through out the week.


Roy, Mountain Musician, 2009, Beehive

Quote below from Media Communications Book we will study.

We turn to several types of emotional connections;

recognizing that the other is feeling,

recognizing what the other is feeling,

recognizing how the other is feeling,

feeling along with the other,

feeling as the other is feeling,

feeling about the other’s feelings,

and responding to the other’s feelings.

Sally Planalp
Communicating Emotion
Text used with author's permission.


Class meetings will be from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM with lunch 12:00-1:00 PM
Individual critiques will be scheduled from 3:00 to 5:00PM daily.
The last day, format to be scheduled with group. Traditionally we end with a group critique, with students showing new work produced during Christmas break.
* For all critiques, please-print form.

International Center of Photography
New York City
http://www.icp.org/
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Slide Presentation and lecture

The Program For Humanities in Medicine

February 18th, 2010
5:00 PM

The Barwick Lecture
Beaumont Room
333 Cedar St.

Glady's and Cora, 2009

"Appalachian Portraits: A Healing Perspective"
Shelby Lee Adams

Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Conn.

http://www.med.yale.edu/intmed/hummed/sched0910.html


Free and open to the public.

Contact - Deborah Finger at site above for additional information.

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Click on Image to enlarge.


Adrian College, Adrian, Michigan

Exhibition of photography
November 9th - December 9th

Title: Appalachian Images and Mountain Musicians

Lecture and workshop November 17th - 18th, 2009

Additional Information to be posted.

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Photography Workshop

The Julia Dean Photo Workshops

Venice, California

July 2010

Details to be posted.

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Exhibition and Caring

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Photography Exhibition
Summer 2008
"Friends are Forever"

Gate Way To Heaven Church, '95
[Pastor Bill Noble in photo]

Exhibition Location - "Gate Way To Heaven Church"
Hardshell Cannie Road, Kentucky


Photography Exhibition and cook out made with four generations of the Noble Family and friends. Photographs to be distributed to families at close of exhibit.

Many of my friends and subjects over the years have been published in three books, pictures reviewed and written about together in newspapers and photo magazines, filmed separately-yet film edits shown together. Many have never had the occasion to meet each other before. Further, I think it important that my long term friends and subjects have some limited edition prints that are collected and exhibited outside the area, know their value, and have a vested interest in that value by owning a few prints themselves.


Donnie with Baby and Cow's, 1999
[Noble Family]

This summer 2008 celebrates my 35Th year making pictures in this region.


Over 100 people attended the festivities June 8th, '08

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"Gate Way to Heaven," Church on opening day.



Cookout side of Church.



Food.



Cutting the Ham?


Cake Cutting!


Exhibition


Exhibition inside Church.


Musician's


Photographing


Vanessa being photographed with Dad before taking her photograph home.


Callie with her two photographs at closing.


Jason with Father and Uncle's photo.


Jason taking home photo.


Junior with photograph of Father.


Rachel holding her family photo.


Lloyd Deane, [Brother & Sister] holding photo of their father.

Thanks to all for attending.
Photographs courtesy of Paul Paletti.


"Friends are Forever."

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Open our Hearts

We have more admiration for those above us than those of our own level or below. We aspire to reach higher, improve ourselves and innovate. When we are close - on an equal level, many tend to distance themselves, claiming their own uniqueness, separateness and so many isolate. Others are viewed below, with many tending to ignore nor help - but pitying, ridiculing and idealizing those less fortunate saying seek upward-ness. We are all interconnected on the highest level internally; see that, open your hearts to that possibility/reality and our problems will begin to diminish.

Shelby Lee Adams
August 2009

Basho, 1644-1694, Japanese Poet

“Go to the pines if you want to learn about the pines, or to the bamboo if you want to learn about the bamboo. And in doing so, you must let go of your subjective preoccupation with yourself. Otherwise you impose yourself on the object and don’t learn. Your poetry arises by itself when you and the object have become one, when you have plunged deep enough into the object to see something like a hidden light glimmering there. However well phrased your poetry may be, if your feeling isn’t natural – if you and the object are separate – then your poetry isn’t true poetry but merely your subjective counterfeit.”

Matsuo Basho


Response to a Virginia college student’s questions - October 2008

Today as in the 1970’s when I began my work, the art photography audience as others have a well-informed view of contemporary Appalachia. I have always stated and published that my work was subjective, personal, autobiographical and an artist search for a deeper meaning from which he came. My work is not intended as news oriented, authoritative or photojournalism, but has always been placed in the context of art and personal expression documentary, with a deep interest in the psychological of the human condition. The metaphors of art photography are generally understood. Now examining my roots for over 35 years I penetrate and study my culture from the inside revealing it’s people, relationships and environments in way’s only perfunctorily studied by outsiders before. This has resulted in some amazing discoveries, a chasm of events creatively documented, some find disturbing. I find my people to be open collaborators, willing and needing to share and discovering many universal truths. These relationships are healthy, honest and healing both for this photographer and his friends. We might need to re-frame the question of stereotyping to reflect upon our own self-importance, shame, denial and guilt from which we all come. Overcome our prejudice of our own shadows and embrace those in need of human love, don’t isolate, ignore, manipulate, cover up and victimize. We have done this: it continues; I am only a witness, not a perpetrator. All cultures, communities and families have problems, only those that embrace their behavior in totality - persevere and transform. This is a daily discipline and responsibility, not to ignore.

It requires time, study and commitment to rethink how we view the world of the disadvantaged and our responsibility within. Consider the fact that the world’s population is 75% in need, shouldn’t we reconsider how we view, engage, interact and respond to this? I'm trying to expand how we process this very important relationship. Study our history and how we process our own images. Those who participate in fieldwork learn about themselves, develop patience, acceptance and understanding with deeper perspectives. We bring about effective change, first within ourselves from the inside out, a slow process, but the only way to be truly authentic and supportive to others, ones self and the culture served. Forgiveness, compassion, and attention are required tools. Many of the established elite continue to idealistically isolate themselves from this world community, judging and distancing, rather than engaging. Open your hearts and see what my people and culture have to offer. Look beyond the surface and just you. The world imbalance continues threatening to life, as we know it. Embrace all. Get involved, don’t become a “Judge.” Our future relies on interconnectedness, not academic, idealistic isolation. Visit and talk to families like my mountain people; by varying circumstances they are everywhere, in every community, every city, every country and culture; see that their humanity is not so different from you or me.

“Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”
Mother Teresa

My photographs have been co created with my friends reflecting our bonds, trust, humor, grace and general celebrations of life. But, problems will persist until we can willfully see, hear, relate to and concentrate on helping those in need of recognition, self-esteem and dignity; not only in Appalachia but World Wide. Sending a check is not enough, without compassion and understanding, this often creates more problems. First, we must overcome our fears, prejudice and insecurity and stop blaming, by getting involved. Stop viewing others from a special height. Understand that every sincere portrait made, is a reflection and part of All of Us. Stereotyping persists today culturally and internally, causing abuses not created by this photographer. I am mirroring back some of our hypocrisy, which our behavior has caused for generations and Oh... how we deny and blame. My work is not about poverty, in its mist perhaps, but more about due respect or the lack of - for the Holler Dwellers. Amidst a thriving modern Appalachia, known to all, they are the last of our multicultural roots. When acknowledging special peoples, honest "feelin" recognition is felt, absorbed, carried and inspires transcendence.

Shelby Lee Adams Oct. 2008

"You break bread with a man you have moved on to another level of friendship. I heard somewheres that that's true the world over."

The Sunset Limited
Cormac McCarthy

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Give with Care

"I hear people say: Oh, if I were only rich, I would do great things to help people. But we all can be rich in love and generosity. Moreover, if we give with care, if we find out the exact wants of those who need our help most, we are giving our own loving interest and concern, which is worth more than all the money in the world."

Albert Schweitzer

How to Help ?

Over the years I have had many wonderful experiences helping people within the mountain hollers. This Spring of 2009, because of the national ABC TV program 20/20 Diane Sawyer's "Children of Appalachia;" I to am receiving e mails and calls to my site, from people asking, it this true is there such need in America? My answer is yes and the story of one woman's interest and individual motivations to help are below.

I have provided the address's and made some phone calls to some folks in Kentucky who's families are in direct need of help in many ways. This is an individual [Susan] - helping individual families directly. I have had more request and can say, if we talk and you seem sincere and want to send care packages to Appalachia directly, I can make suggestions and recommendations to people. Please study below what Susan has done over the past two year's, think of what resources you might be able to provide and contact me. When I go to the mountains every summer and fall, I can photograph the product or gifts in use with the families permission and will send you the sender some snap shots of gifts received. This is an experiment, the gift of the Internet can help us all help each other better.
SLA


Susan, sitting at Grand Canyon.

Susan of Pittsfield, who has known my work since my first books publication in '93 contacted me recently to ask if she could be of help to people in Kentucky. Her hobby is quilting and crafts and she has felt the need and joy of, "Giving with Care". Susan is a wife, mother and grandmother. Her care and gifts of many beautiful hand made quilts, clothing and fruit cakes are going to many of my Appalachian families this Christmas season.

This Christmas 2008 Susan and the "Yankee Pride Quilt Guild" of Pittsfield, Ma. has made, donated and shipped 79 quilts, 25 by Susan herself to many of my Appalachian families. Other items, clothing, food and candy were also generiously donated and shipped.


Sancie and Charity, 08

A dozen families benefited from Susan's generosity this Christmas '07.
Susan's generosity was contagious among her friends here in the Berkshires, more people came forth and supplied donations of goods and shipping cost, so that over 20 families in the mountains had more for this year's Christmas season, 2007.

The Dalton Library, Dalton, Mass. contacted Susan to donate 150 duplicate children's books to ship to Kentucky. "The Beaver Creek Elementary School," Topmost, Kentucky was contacted and has now received these 150 books for their library. Feb. '08

Summer of 2009 _ Susan has organized the purchase and shipping of 6 food boxes to families in need this summer.
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Drilling a well, Hooterville, 2000

My friend Hort Collins was getting ill in the year 2000, he could no longer carry his water. I had a well drilling co. drill him a well and place a water pump next to his home, before city water was piped into this area.

I once heard on an NPR radio program about a project Robert F. Kennedy descreetly funded for years with a one-man office in rural West Virginia. This local man drove around and studied modest homes and invited people to come to his office and apply for help. All he offered was tin roofing materials. But, tin roofing if you think about it, is the most expensive material to buy for a home and yet the most important and long lasting material. I understood from this radio program that this information was not disclosed for many years after Kennedy’s death. He in fact had helped many, many people in this region through simple but very effective programs.

The supply of good water and a solid roof over our heads is something so many of us assume everyone has.

Caring

In smallness and insecurity often people from my culture and others, when viewing our adversity, see their world isolated and ridiculed. I have always tried to identify my work with a larger perspective and with purpose. That purpose being to expand our tolerance, acceptance and understandings of each other’s humanity, no matter how diverse. In my childhood, I grew up seeing my people suffer at the hands of each other needlessly. To explore within my community, my intentions have always been to learn, find connections, basic, primal and universal truths that link us all together, to uplift the "underling" rather than ridicule. “The fullest development of every individual creates a society of equals [1.].” So often, we compare ourselves to each other causing isolation, instead of encouraging communal growth.

See the bigger picture I say to my students and colleagues. As water seeks the lowest level it muddies, a place most fear. My intuition told me long ago that no one was better equipped for such an internalized community exploration than myself. I grew up within a combination of circumstances that gave me accessibility and knowledge others shun. That fact has opened doors for me. Elevate consciousness by exploring the lower cracks and crevices of your specific roots, study and learn. We have long painted a pretty picture of ourselves by painting red paint over a beautiful red rose. Study the core, don’t be supercilious. See the "underlings" and help bring them forward, they are a part of our basic culture, needing recognition, for our mutual growth. We read how God is always found in humble places. Humble places seem to produce more believers in love, spirit and true openhearted fellowship. To see this one must have the patience and commitment to look beyond the surface of things. One must become a seeker themselves, dropping ego and self-defensiveness; knowing you don’t have to prove your position, just be OK with the experience. Caring beyond "us" benefits our total and infinite humanness. My community is your community; let's open our hearts and see more clearly.

Shelby Lee Adams

[1.] J. Krishnamurti, “Total Freedom,” Harper Collins, 1996

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Photographic Vision

Wide Angle Vision - Shelby Lee Adams

Previsualization, the term used to describe what the artist conceives mentally when in the process or before making art. When the work is completely executed, the artist often refers to this moment as a gift or guiding inspiration. The previsalization may have appeared as an intuitive, instantly clear image, like a flash of light, or something hidden in the unconscious that had to be wrestled free, but its effects can be superlative to one’s work.

As a photographer when working for weeks on end in the mountains, observing and participating in my environment daily, my eyes and senses become acutely aware. I see and observe on multiple levels, both physically and mentally. You can feel overpowered and weakened in spirit, humbled waiting. When I first began photographing with a view camera, I became frustrated with the limited flat field focal view. After awhile I began using wide-angle lenses, later adding studio lighting. These tools help create what I experience and see, a multiple view of reality simultaneously. Not in the historically traditional manner and use of the view camera, but real field vision non-the less. It is liberating to view the world and make concrete what and how you really see.
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“When we were very young it was a wide, wide scene. As we grow older, however, we come to take a more restricted view. The angle of our tunnel vision may reduce to something like five degrees, on either side of which those increasingly vague objects are more or less ignored. We become wretchedly exclusive, self-occupied, narrow-minded and narrow-headed, hemmed in. We become sick.”

Douglas Harding – Look for Yourself

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Leveling

My people look at their own photographs differently. They feel recognized and accepted for whom they are. They do not feel threatened by the power of photography or devalued by it, but more acknowledged. They talk of their oppressions and difficulty’s as fact. The leveling of self-importance between us brings forth a more emphatic recognition. Perhaps, only those who have suffered themselves can really understand suffering. We acknowledge what we know.

Shelby Lee Adams
March 22, 08 - Easter Sunday
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Truth

Today we are suspicious of “Truth,” because we recognize that what is called truth is often only a tool in the hands of those in power, and is often determined by their beliefs and tailored to their requirements.

Lionel Corbett

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Liberation - Douglas Harding

We live above ground in the light, of course, but the quality and safety of the life we live there rests upon what’s below ground in the dark.

I am what I look at.

From what I’m looking out of, I have inside information denied to all outsiders.

I’m inviting you to doubt what the world tells you about your identity, and take a fresh look at yourself. Just drop all presuppositions and be true to yourself.
Place reliance on what you perceive instead of what you conceive. Fieldwork is valuable if you are open to experience instead of speculations. You observe the observer.

We don’t see what we see, but what someone tells us to see.

What home is like – want be enough to exorcise forever the Thing that has invaded and haunted your Home all your adult life. Though it vanishes on close inspection, it returns the instant your attention wanders. It is your wraith, your doppelganger, and if you don’t keep casting it out it will cast you out and be the death of you. Everything perishes.

The viewer is the viewed and you coincide with you, where there remains nothing to perish, where you are eccentric no longer.

Get the seer moving instead of the seen.

UPANISHAD: God made the senses turn outwards, therefore a man looks outward, not into himself. But now and again a daring soul, desiring immortality, has looked back and found himself.

The Wide Awake One that – though homely and obvious and transparent through and through – fills me with worship and wonder at the mystery of its self-origination. Who shall set limits to the bright blessings that can arise from our growing willingness to trust what we see, instead of what we’re told to see?

Get the picture without being the screen.

Every day it becomes more apparent that “ we must love one another or die.”
Today our well based fear is to look within - is to disappear, and our baseless fear that this means annihilation – are more subtle and efficient. Everyone who sees that to disappear as a particular thing is to reappear instantly as the No-thing that is the imperishable Home of all that perishes, and that to die now is to die never.

Douglas Harding
Look for Yourself

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He Raiseth Up

We must awaken to see each other’s mutual humanity, in all cultures, every community and all individuals. Violence and stigmatization will continue until mutual respect and kindness are firmly embraced. We are not multiple peoples, but one, divided.

My photographs are intimate portraits made with feelings shared together from the inside, with friends, subjects and myself. Masks dissolve when relationships evolve. There is no coaxing or manipulation for effect, instead just open honesty, relating together as valued human beings, with acceptance and without judgments. Our history of association with words like "marginalize" and “poverty” limit and mislead the viewer’s perceptions. People suffer from this. I photograph strong willed creative individuals, loving families, motivated children and some dysfunctional lives, like the world over. Look deeper and you will find our mutual quest. We need kinder, more all-encompassing language that embraces and contributes more meaningfully and realistically.

When people are treated with the utmost respect, they learn to feel worthy of reverence; they realize that they have absolute value. I have learned that in order to establish myself, I must help others to establish themselves. Bridging difference requires some emptying of self-importance from all concerned.

The ancient "Golden Rule" has global interpretations from differing peoples, religions and continents saying throughout time: do not do to others what you would not have done to you, this is necessary selfless wisdom. Compassion, kindness and generosity are the virtues it will take to turn this broken world around. How we look and gaze upon each other at the onset of every single day is an important exercise and discipline, accept don't compare, many still only see themselves. My picture's intentions are in part to mirror my cultures unique environments and diversity, as well as to reflect the people’s positive values still practiced, abandoned by some and devalued by many from more “progressive” societies. My people in spite of having less, they have not lost themselves.

Within the art gallery environment, all sides are equals in the same ceremony, observing and communing. Where else and how else, can this happen? The walls dividing us must dissolve. The art gallery represents a platform that provides a purposeful place for our mutual self-study and coexistence. Our sensitivity to cultural and humanistic diversity within the body, mind and spirit of all peoples must be expanded and respected. My life and work have been dedicated to this pursuit.

Seeing and participating in our shared humanity, understanding differences, interconnecting, transforming and transcending – all of these inspire change and encourage acceptance. This is the healing and redemptive power of art. Opening our visual perceptions can help unify people and the flow of authentic language can defeat stigmatization. But many still resist... the “all” of our humanity and have lost their heart. Fewer opportunities exist today for this important human exchange, giving way to more commerce and artifice.

My friends from the hollers remind me that they are not under privileged, nor poor. In fact they are rich and equal to all. That stability can only be achieved and maintained by all recognizing mutual equality. They are largely untouched by material artifice. Respecting and having pride in every aspect of their lives, not rejecting anyone, yet divided too in how they view themselves, honoring family, learning to love regardless of what they get in return, living life free of compromise if only for the moment, they remind me that God has made them spiritually honorable even though society deems them poor. They are indeed among the “princes” regardless of what the world might see.

The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust… to set them among princes and inherit a seat of honor.

1 Samuel 2. 7-8, King James Bible

Shelby Lee Adams
May 2009

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Prayer


Her state of mind, her ecstasy of love, show that something has happened to her. And nothing greater can happen to a human being than that he is forgiven. For forgiveness means reconciliation in spite of estrangement; it means reunion in spite of hostility; it means acceptance of those who are unacceptable; and it means reception of those who are rejected. Forgiveness is unconditional; it is not forgiveness at all.

Paul Tillich



On Seeing
In ancient China before an artist began to paint anything-a tree, for instance-he would sit down in front of it for days, months, years, it didn’t matter how long, until he was the tree. He did not identify himself with the tree but he was the tree. This means that there was no space between him and the tree, no space between the observer and the observed, no experiencer experiencing the beauty, the movement, the shadow, the depth of a leaf, The quality of color. He was totally the tree, and in that state only could he paint.

Krishnamurti
Freedom From The Known


He Raiseth Up [Edited Version]
When people are treated with the utmost respect, they learn to feel worthy of reverence; they realize that they have absolute value. I have learned that in order to establish myself, I must help others to establish themselves. Bridging difference requires some emptying of self-importance.

How we look and gaze upon each other at the onset of every single day is an important exercise and discipline, suspend judgment and comparison. Comparison is a form of competition that leads to aggression and separation. Unfortunately, many only see the world through themselves, still only seeing themselves. My people in spite of having less, they have not lost themselves, in fact they have developed more compassion for all.

Seeing and participating in our shared humanity, understanding differences, interconnecting, transforming and transcending – all inspire change and encourage acceptance. This is the healing and redemptive power of art and religion. Opening our perceptions and emotions, to respectfully appreciating differences help unify people, expanding tolerance and diversity, creating a flow of authentic language and visibility, that defeats stigmatization. But many resist... the “all” or rich multiplicity of humanity and have lost their hearts, remaining separate in isolated comfort zones or narcissistic cells.

Stability can only be achieved and maintained by all recognizing mutual equality.

The Lord maketh poor, and maketh rich: He bringeth low, and lifteth up. He raiseth up the poor out of the dust… to set them among princes and inherit a seat of honor.
1 Samuel 2. 7-8, King James Bible
Shelby Lee Adams
May 2009

A Viewer's Response
We live in a world where clean, rich, well-spoken, going to the right places and being seen with the right people is valued far beyond anything else. And here, right in front of my eyes are your photos - so obviously a world and a people who have no thoughts of these things. They are untouched and untouchable by those things - not because they aren't attainable to them but because those things aren't them. They know themselves better than we will ever know ourselves. They are defined by Family, Land and Soul not by car, job or friends.
And maybe that's the heart of the matter for me - maybe that's why at first I turned away, I felt embarrassment with the photos - I thought I was embarrassed for them and their lack of. No, I am embarrassed for ME and my lack of. I have lost who I am along the way.

Nandi Boliek

Education

Our society should offer every citizen ample opportunity for individual growth. Only through education can people achieve personal development. Only through personal development will society evolve.

Richard Thurman

Paul Klee

"Some will not recognize the truthfulness of my mirror. Let them remember that I am not here to reflect the surface... but must penetrate inside. My mirror probes down to the heart. I write words on the forehead and around the corners of the mouth."

“One eye sees, the other feels…”

Paul Klee
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''A human being is a part of the whole called by us universe, a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts and feeling as something separated from the rest, a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest to us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.''

Albert Einstein