click here to read more about SFMOMA’s symposium

I’m not sure it’s really worth it to take the time to write what I’m about to write. In essence, these very words sanction the absurdity of the question, “Is photography over.” But here it goes…

Is music over? Is the Internet over? Is art over? Is nihilism over? Is breakfast over? What is over? Who gets to decide?

I can’t believe I’m even asking these questions, they’re so stupid. Does anyone realize that SFMOMA spent thousands of dollars flying in experts to decide if the subject of their forum was even worth talking about? Couldn’t they have just given the money to charity? Or put it towards an actual ART EXHIBITION that looks at contemporary photography being made today. If they chose the latter, they might have allowed the viewer to determine the relevance of photographs on the wall, curated by, you know, curators.

I really don’t want to rant, but the reality is that photographic imagery has never been more ubiquitous in the history of, you know, humankind. At the same time, the Art World has never been more marginalized or freaked out. Are these two phenomena related? I don’t know. What I do know is that my photographic colleagues and I take our jobs as artists seriously.

Look. Think. Process. Click the shutter. Edit. Contemplate. Color Correct. Print. Exhibit.

Good art is important, bad art is distracting. Curators and critics work hard for the power to determine relevance. That’s a good thing. But to waste everyone’s time by asking if their own jobs are worth keeping? Come on now. The major museum exhibitions of late have been about New Topographics, Frank, Avedon, Cartier-Bresson…How about some fresh blood? Why not start sifting through the morass of imagery and finding some cogent themes. Then hang the sh-t up and see what’s what?

Honestly. Has art ever mattered? Obviously that’s a personal question. But if one’s answer is yes, then NO, photography is not over.