On Photography with John Opera
Assistant professor and head of the photography program at the State University of New York at Buffalo, John Opera has exhibited his critically acclaimed photographs for over two decades in dozens of galleries, from New York to LA, from Mexico City to Basel, Switzerland. His work has been featured in numerous reviews, articles, and other publications, from ArtForum to The New Yorker. Admired by new creators as well as established artists who are now in their 80s, John often invents tools and techniques to push the limits of photography—sometimes putting a new spin on nineteenth-century processes, sometimes developing a completely novel apparatus involving a turntable or laser—as he explores fresh modes of painting with light. The son of a scientist and a social worker, Opera is an artist keenly focused on how we see the complexity of the multifaceted world around us—and within us.
Rotating Ice Disk (2005) archival inkjet print, 32 x 42 inches, edition 5. John has been accused several times of doctoring this image that so vividly captures a natural phenomenon he was fortunate enough to encounter on a hike one afternoon: a perfectly round disk of ice spinning like a record album in a whirlpool.
Double Lens (yellow with lines) 2018. David LaRocca, the theorist and critic who introduces this episode, selected this image as one to feature, and man! I can’t disagree. It’s a cyanotype finished in acrylic in a custom frame, with dimensions in inches 21h x 17w x 2d.
RELATED MATERIALS
To check out more John Opera photographs, his CV, and other items of interest, visit his website.
The fantastic video from which I drew many supplementary shots for this episode’s YouTube version comes courtesy of Cody Schlabaugh and Document, a gallery based in Chicago. Click here for all that.
Featured musician Thomas Halpin was interviewed on Point of Learning episode 009. More of his music and his ideas about learning music available here.
Thanks as always to Shayfer James, this week celebrating the tenth anniversary of his album Counterfeit Arcade, which includes the songs “Weight of the World” and “Villainous Thing” that he graciously allows me to use as intro and outro. Shayfer’s current projects and catalog of music are accessible here.
Untitled. Blueberry anthotype (2018). About a dozen of these portraits of John’s students, rendered in “fugitive” dyes (a.k.a. disappearing ink), are featured in the YouTube video companion to this episode. Of John’s current projects, this is one of the most poignant to this middle-aged teacher.
Special Thanks
Point of Learning is a member of Patreon, so if you’re interested in helping me share important ideas about what and how and why we learn, punch the button below. Cool stuff happens for as little as 10 cents per day! My great thanks to those who have already joined. Patrons include: Aaron Bartley, Gilberto Belaval, Gretchen & David Brand, Jenni Brand, Jake Brown, Patty Cruice, Ryan Daly, David Davis, James Duggan, Dave Eisenberg, Anna Falicov, Errick L. Greene, Jonathan Hiam, Gregory Horn, Janice & John & Ava & Brooke Horn, Robyn Lee Horn, Greg Jackson, Tim Lear, Janet & Robert Lee, Kristen Lee, Tom Loughlin, Carol MacVey, Linda B. Matt, J. W. Gregg Meister, Miriam Meister, Sarah & Peter Meister, Julia Olff, John Opera, Gail Radford, Gail & Frank Richeson, Stacy Rodgers, Elizabeth & Terry Rowlands & Keith Zemsky.
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