"If I can make it there . . ."

Michael Kenna
New York, Mont St. Michel, Guilin, Chausey, Hokkaido
March 26 - April 26, 2008
Stephen Wirtz Gallery
49 Geary Street, 3rd Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108

Flatiron Building, Study 2, New York, USA, 2003

Perhaps this image by Michael Kenna is a quiet homage to any number of unmentioned and anonymous photographers (Edward Steichen, Alfred Stieglist, Alvin Langdon Coburn, Karl Struss, etc. - come to mind, having photographed the Flatiron building from almost the same vantage point, some, a century ago) - it's that " . . . On the Shoulders of Giants" idea - perhaps not. The show also includes work done in Japan, China, Mont St. Michel and other parts of France, and yet it is the New York work that I think is a bit of a departure for Mr. Kenna. This is one of the quieter images - for a more ferocious night photograph, see the next one, below - whimsically titled: "Mary Poppins Over Midtown, New York, New York, USA, 2006."

The Artist Reception is Thursday, April 3, 2008 from 5:30 to 7:30, and yes, Mr. Kenna will be in attendance, as will some of The Nocturnes, we're sure.

BTW, when you stop by the gallery, say hello to Wirtz staffer Julie Casemore (a former neighbor of ours - before we deserted the City - and tell her "The Nocturnes sent you."

BTW2, Michael Kenna has agreed to contribute to the traveling exhibition, "Darkness, Darkness" (see post below) - more details to follow!

("These little town blues, are melting away . . . ")