Native New Yorker Jen Bekman does many things well: in the past ten years she’s founded a design blog (Unbeige), worked as a jewelry designer, and led creative and development operations at several Internet companies. But Jen is best known for her eponymous New York City gallery, founded in 2003, where she shows photography, works on paper, paintings, and mixed-media works by emerging artists and previously unknown talents. Her quarterly Hey, Hot Shot! competition, which debuts several photos by 10 new winners each season in a group showcase, has developed a certain buzz. (Full disclosure: I was included last winter… on my third try. :) The deadline for entering the 2006 Fall Showcase has just been extended, to next Tuesday, November 14. If you’re interested in getting your work seen offline, or actively working toward exhibitions and gallery representation, Jen Bekman is one of the top professionals you may want to get to know.
Someone who already knows Jen well is her good friend Jenni Holder, aka jkh_22, an esteemed photography professional herself, having most recently been director (1998-2003) of the Edwynn Houk Gallery, in New York City. Last month we asked Jenni, who now lives across the Atlantic in Lyon, to devote some of her frequent IM sessions with Jen to a wide-ranging conversation on Fotolog, photo competitions, the current photography scene, and anything else they wanted to chat about. The interview follows, after the jump. —along
Jenni Holder: Hi Jen! The Daily F’log has asked us to have a little chat. Here’s an easy question to start: Are you a Fotologger?
Jen Bekman: Hi! Well yes, I was one of the very very first Fotologgers. I was working at Meetup when Fotolog was just Heif posting a photo every day. And then he sort of casually handed out a few accounts to friends, and I was one of those friends.
jkh: Right, right… I knew that.
jb: I mean, like I think probably one of the first 50 maybe?
jkh: You know, I was not far behind…!! Maybe 51? Heiferman and my sister are friends… and it’s because he invited Laura to Fotolog that i got involved early on.
jb: I didn’t update all that much because in spite of my immersion in photography I am a horrible photographer myself. As I often say, a Jen Bekman photo is most easily identified by either a) having a camera strap in the frame or b) being blurry, crooked, etc. and so on.
jkh: Ha ha. I know what you mean, though; everyone thinks that because of Houk, I know something about cameras off the AUTO mode. I’m not that bad, but I rarely experiment with settings… and since having kids, my subject matter is also pretty predictable!
jb: I am way more like most Fotologgers when it comes to the sorts of photos that I take personally. Photos of my dog, my friends, vacations, and very occasionally weird things I come across in day to day life, IF I happen to have a camera with me, which I rarely ever do. I don’t even have a cell phone right now, much less one that has a camera. I think your photos have always distinguished themselves by their everyday-life-through-a-perceptive-aesthetic-eye quality, So I would most certainly not put yours and mine in the same category.
jkh: No cell phone? Sebastien just got me a Blackberry… which is hilarious, because I am usually HOME, where I can check my email/Internet… and if not, I have at least one kid on my hip, and most likely two, pushing a stroller full of groceries. as IF I could text message someone, never mind surf the Web!! That said, I am going to Paris Photo later this month, and it might come in handy there… you know, like to check my Fotolog!
jb: No, no cellphone, long story and probably more trouble than it’s worth, but it’s remarkably refreshing in many ways. I have resisted the email on the cell thus far, and I am certain that it’s a Very Good Thing. I’m tethered enough as it is!
jkh: Wouldn’t it be great if we could just publish this as our interview?
jb: I think that we can.
jkh: Okay, so tell me again, how do you know Heiferman?
jb: I know Heif because our mutual friend Andrew Beebe introduced us.
And he’ll always have the distinction, I hope, of being the last boss I ever had. I was the VP of Community at Meetup when it was at its earliest, tiniest, smallest office-ist stages.
jkh: Did Fotolog have anything to do with your decision to open a gallery?
jb: No, not at all, although I have to say that Eliot’s stuff got me thinking about the intersection between photography, err, Photography and the Internet early on. Fotolog’s where I first saw his work, and got to know him via comments amongst our lovely little community that grew up there.
© Eliot Shepard (eshepard)
jkh: Well, you certainly are a pioneer with regards to mining talent from the Internet. I mean, from seeing Eliot’s work on line to conducting the “Hey, Hot Shot!” contests. I’m sure some of that comes from your experience as a blogger, which surely predates the gallery’s inaugural show.
As the daughter of an artist, I remember my dad and his friends sending slides as a means of seeking exhibition venues, or updating their galleries with visuals. Then, at the gallery, I witnessed the transition from slides to the submission of entire portfolios on CDs. now, it seems, everyone just has their own Web site. of course, nothing compares to seeing work in person.
jkh: So, if you were to describe the gallery, or yourself, in 5 words or less…
jb: I will tell you three quotes I love:
“You just go on your nerve.” —Frank O’Hara
“Well-behaved women seldom make history.”
jkh: Dorothy Parker?
jb: Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. And recently in the New York Times Eliot Spitzer said “You don’t change the world by whispering.”
jkh: Here’s one I like: “I might repeat to myself slowly and soothingly, a list of quotations beautiful from minds profound—if I can remember any of the damn things.” That’s Dorothy.
jkh: Speaking of inspiration, do you have idols in the business? Or do you fancy yourself as someone who is cutting a fresh path in terms of how a gallery is run?
jb: Cutting a fresh path, although Marian Goodman, well, damn. But her style is totally different from mine.
jkh: Do you remember the first thing you sold?
jb: I think that the first thing I sold was one of Dana Miller’s photos, the trampoline photo which, fittingly, was the first postcard image too.
© Dana Miller
jkh: Do you get any inquiries from potential contestants/artists wondering if they should submit to Hey Hot Shot even if they’ve never printed any of their own work before? I know I’m on the panel, but I have no idea how much feedback you get…
jb: Yes I do. It’s in the FAQ ma’am.
One sec, I’ll show ya:
I take lots of photographs, but I’m not all that experienced when it comes to printing. Can I still enter?
Yes, if your work is selected and you need advice about printing (or need someone to make the prints for you) we’ll help you figure that stuff out. We have great resources available.
jkh: Hmm, yeah… that looks familiar now! Okay. Take two! I was also wondering what that fee to enter is all about? are you lunching at Café Balthazar every day, or what?
jb: Hah. Well, no I really like to go to pricier places than that.
In all seriousness though, I feel like the fee is completely reasonable. Anyone who knows me well knows how dedicated I am to supporting emerging photographers, in spite of the fact that it’s a hard niche to make a lot of money from. I work really hard, and I’ve learned a lot. My time, attention, and insight are valuable, as is that same interest from the stellar panel. Photography is a wonderful creative endeavor but anyone who does it a lot knows that it’s not cheap. I believe that if you’re serious about getting your work out there, spending $45 for the chance at the huge exposure that the competition offers its winners is a $45 very well spent. And really, in all honesty, if the $45 creates financial hardship, given the average cost of printing and mounting or framing, it would be difficult for the entrant to produce the work for the exhibition were they to be selected.
jkh: I know how I assess each contestant, but for the benefit of someone considering entering: Does each one have an equal chance, or do professionals, or even local artists, have some advantages?
jb: Actually one of the things I am proudest about is the array of experience you see when you look at the past winners. Lots and lots of the Hot Shots are self-taught people who got a digital camera into their hot little hands and couldn’t stop shooting. There are also some photogs who’ve got amazing credentials and formidable experience and education in the field of photography. It’s a wide range of work, not just in terms of experience, but style, and subject too—I hope to represent as broad a range of what’s exciting in photography today with the competition.
jkh: Have you had much success selling work out of the Hot Shot exhibitions—or do they mainly function as a springboard for these artists’ careers in the art world?
jb: Actually I have sold quite a bit of work from the shows. Not as much as I would like to, but as the competition becomes more established I find that sales are increasing. Another big boost for Hot Shot sales has been my jen@joe project. Joe is a very upscale coffee spot in NYC (the best coffee in the city if you ask me, and I am a VERY picky coffee drinker). Jonathan Rubinstein, it’s owner, approached me about curating shows in his two locations downtown (one on Waverly Place and one on East 13th Street just off of Fifth Avenue). Installing the work in those two locations has been terrific. The work really enlivens both spaces and it’s great exposure for the photographers. This is especially the case because I was very careful to develop signage and branding for the project that lets people know that the work is coming from my gallery and is indeed for sale. It’s been a great thing for everyone involved: Jonathan loves surrounding his customers with beautiful art, Hot Shots get more exposure and I have a lot less stuff to store under my bed!
jkh: This sort of competition is rather unorthodox for a typical gallery. And your unique approach and commitment to discovering and supporting emerging artists seems mirrored by the physical location of your New York gallery. I can’t help but think that being somewhat—that is, totally—removed from the gazillion galleries in Chelsea is a good thing for your efforts there. Do you?
jb: I don’t have any interest in moving to Chelsea, and I don’t mind saying so!
It’s not my scene, I’m a bit of a renegade and I really like the idea that people can come by my gallery in the course of a regular day’s events and I’m not in a place that’s a destintation for art only.
My motto: live with art, it’s good for you. I like showing art where people are living, eating, shopping and just hanging around.
jkh: Yeah, that’s a different experience than taking in 20-plus galleries some Saturday afternoon over there. You must have an interesting audience… from someone who wanders in between shoe shopping and lunch (hmm… checking flights now…), to collectors who go there expressly to see your artists’ work. Speaking of, I’m sure the review of Holly Lynton’s recent show in The New Yorker brought in a fair amount of both!
© Holly Lynton (golightly)
Anyway, your distinguished presence in the Bowery seems to parallel your equally unprecedented presence on the Internet. Most gallery owners are not as available, never mind candid, on the Internet as you are.
jb: Yes, well that’s because of my background. Another thing to keep in mind is that the Bowery is increasingly becoming an art destination, and will be even more of one once the New Museum of Contemporary Art opens its doors again.
jkh: Well, that seems appropriate! In any case, no matter how more or less developed it becomes, you’ll always be a destination when I come to town. And a pioneer! You’re such an adventurous, entrepreneurial thinker…. Should we worry you have other plans simmering that might take you away from the gallery business?
jb: Well not take me away, per se, but I always have a lot of different projects cooking because I am interested in so many different things. Right now I am working on book projects for Hey Hot Shot and also planning a conference for the spring.
jkh: This is the result of a conversation you started on personism, is that right?
jb: Yes. My now-famous-in-the-blogosphere List of Women Speakers for Your Conference.
I want to show that it’s possible to produce a really smart, provocative, must-attend conference that has a balanced well-rounded roster. I am sick of conferences that claim to have their finger on the pulse of what’s happening which are comprised of speakers and panelists that are all white men.
jkh: Obviously, you’re on that list… and should be just for coming up with it!
OK, since I have a baby waking from a nap, let’s wrap things up and go out for that virtual drink.
This one’s on me!
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7 Responses to “The Fotolog Interview: Jen Bekman”
pancho @ 2006-11-12 05:47:48 PM says:
Wow, the interviws is too large for my limited english.
But i can say.
I know her blog, and is one of the best blog of design hits around the world.
coolhunter is the other blog that i love, about design, that i love.
sorry for my ugly english
xD
Personism » Blog Archive » Thousands of Words About Pictures @ 2006-11-14 11:21:10 AM says:
[…] 1mag3 2point8 alec soth - blog Automatt .com Big Images Blog bighappyfunhouse Conscientious FlickrBlog Journal Of A Photographer Meet Me In Ataxia, Baby NOTIFBUTWHEN #2 (Brian Ulrich) nyc.photobloggers.org PDNedu powerHouse (Although their new MySpace location hurts my eyes. Ow.) site news - joe’s nyc slower.net weblog State of the Art The Daily F’log (Who recently ran an interview of me conducted over IM with Ms. Jenni Holder) The Online Photographer virtublog Youngna (A photoblog, but with meaty “captions” that are basically posts.) […]
Luna @ 2006-12-01 04:36:31 PM says:
…
The Daily F’log » Blog Archive » Kudos, Hot Shot! @ 2007-01-08 07:06:15 PM says:
[…] Congratulations to Jen Bekman (who jkh_22 interviewed for The Daily F’log here a few months ago), for being named one of American Photo’s top Photography Innovators of 2006, for “developing a new generation of photo artists and consumers.” Hear Hear! […]
The Daily F’log » Blog Archive » Surf’s Up @ 2007-04-19 05:01:01 PM says:
[…] We Are All Collectors Now. Gallery owner and Daily F’log interviewee Jen Bekman’s exciting new project, 20×200, will give you the opportunity to buy selected high-quality prints, both photographs and works on paper, for $20 each. As Jen writes in GOOD Magazine, “These $20 prints are the gateway drug of the art world. Once your new acquisition has found its rightful place in your home, you’ll be hungry for more.” […]
jen bekman news » Blog Archive » Upcoming Excitement! @ 2007-06-02 04:06:38 PM says:
[…] Despite all of the upcoming craziness, we still have a moment to chat with friends. Jenni Holder, former Director of Edwynn Houk Gallery and current Hot Shot Panelist, dropped by the gallery earlier this week to say hello while she was in town. Check out her flickr (her children are very cute) and a past interview she conducted with Jen at Fotolog. […]
The Daily F’log » Blog Archive » Shopping Art @ 2007-10-17 04:04:54 PM says:
[…] “Live with Art—It’s Good for You,” says the cute little sticker that comes with every print you purchase from the new online art emporium 20×200. That imperative sentence may be familiar to readers of The Daily F’log: it’s the personal motto of gallery owner Jen Bekman, who Jenni Holder interviewed for the F’log last fall. […]