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Real or Surreal

Photos from the SPD Auction

Tuesday night's Real or Surreal Photography and Illustration Auction was a glittering and fun gathering at MILK Gallery celebrating the collaborations between the members of SPD and the photographers, illustrators, and artists who together shape the stories of our time. Over 100 artists donated some of their best work, and hundreds turned out for a night of bidding, cocktails, delicious food, and best of all, major appreciation -- followed by the after party at the Soho Grand's new Club Room. A slideshow of some of the shots from the night after the jump...
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Barry Blitt's Backstory

Barry Blitt created this striking watercolor for a New Yorker cover assignment. I asked him to give us the backstory:

"This was one idea from a stack of end-of-summer sketches I sent in to the magazine. It's as close to a sort of old time New Yorker cover as I get. It's nice to try my hand at drawing pictures without would-be terriorists or politicians of any stripe.

When I got the go-ahead, I drew a couple of versions of the final. This was the runner-up. I get nervous and keep redrawing everything until the issue gets printed, and sometimes even afterward."

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Brian Duffy's "David Bowie"

This past year we lost Brian Duffy, one of the photographers who defined the look of the "Swinging Sixties" in London.
 
Duffy, along with David Bailey and Terence Donovan, known collectively as the "Terrible Trio" or the "Black Trinity," shook up the photography scene by shooting fashion and portraiture in a more playful, documentary style. … MORE

Paula Scher's "India"

Paula Scher's been doing these groovy type maps for awhile now, and here's your chance to own a giant signed limited edition silkscreen (the paintings themselves are priceless). Full disclosure here; I'd buy every continent if I could afford them, and in fact, own an enormous Africa print. I'm a total fan of Paula and this series. You'll find the Bollywood-colored India, as well as some other fantastic prints, originals, and objects, at Real or Surreal on the 16th. We've included top illustrators and designers in the auction this time around, so clear a wall and get your bids in early. I'm just sayin'... … MORE

Herb Ritts' "Eona Holding Zebra Skull" from Africa

In 1993, Herb Ritts traveled to east Africa, to photograph the Masai people, animals and landscape there. Working with him on the "Africa" book that was a product of his travels was a wonderful experience. I think Herb was proud of being able to produce images of people and nature that had nothing to do with Hollywood.... Yet the style and elegance of a Ritts photograph came through.

From a 1999 interview with Herb when his work, including his work from Africa, was being presented by the Foundation Cartier in France, sent to us by the Herb Ritts Foundation:

I loved doing the Africa book. It was a place I had always wanted to venture to. I was so taken that I went back six months later and just took pictures. I loved working with only what was in front of me, as it came along. It's a matter of composing with your eye what's going on in front of you, bringing what you've learned into the moment you're in.

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All Treats: Halloween (Eye) Candy

SPD's unofficial Halloween party (for those who like Halloween, and those who love it) starts now, and the treats include: tickets for the amazing Albert Watson on Tuesday night (you definitely don't want to miss out, because someone goes home with the biggest haul of all, Albert's latest book, "Strip Search") and going through the Auction Gallery Preview again for some delicious treats of the visual kind. This piece from François Halard (above) seems especially perfect for tonight!

Auction Gallery Preview

On Tuesday, November 16th we'll be auctioning over 100 framed photographs, illustrations and small sculpture at our Real or Surreal Benefit Auction at MILK Gallery. Preview the work you'll be bidding on after the jump... … MORE

Real or Surreal Photography & Illustration Benefit Auction, November 16th

Real or Surreal Photography and Illustration Benefit Auction
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
MILK Gallery
450 West 15th Street, New York City

Silent Auction:  6:00PM - 8:00PM
Live Auction:  8:30PM

Review all the work at our online gallery

Please join us for cocktails and hors d'oeuvres

Admission $35 at the door

SPD is an advocate for our members' role as journalists and partners in the editorial process, and fosters new generations of editorial expertise through educational outreach and scholarship opportunities. Proceeds benefit these initiatives and expand our influence.


Auction Chairs: Gail Anderson, Illustration, and Jennifer Pastore, Photography

Auction Board: Gail Bichler, Mary Cahill, Laurie Kratochvil, Don Morris

Auction Advisory Committee: Stacey Baker, Christina Cahill, Alina Grossman, Hilary Greenbaum, Eddie Guy, Leo Jung, Kira Pollack, Leslie Simitch, Amanda Spielman, Dora Somosi, Casey Tierney, Siung Tjia, Michael Walsh


(Photograph by Karine Laval, from "Poolscapes 2010")

Event Impact

We have a long way to go before producing a zero waste event, but here are some steps we took in organizing our LandSeaAir benefit auction on November 19th.  Keeping our event theme in mind, we wanted to make sure we created as little garbage as possible, while also throwing the best event we could and getting the biggest bang for the buck. One of the decisions we made was to serve drinks in biodegradable drinking cups.
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Party Pictures

We had an amazing turn out at the Land Sea Air benefit auction on Wednesday night; over 100 photographs covered the walls at the Hosfelt Gallery, we enjoyed some wonderful wines from Astor Wines, savory food by Cafiero Lussier, and were called to attention as Sarah Mudge from Phillips led us through some intense bidding wars in the live auction. 

Thank you all for coming out, and for those who couldn't make it, we hope to see you at our next event. Pictures (and video!) after the jump.

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