Do Good Fences Make Good Photos?

by Paula Newton December 1, 2015
THE FENCE in Boston

THE FENCE in Boston

In 2012, an annual, summer-long, outdoor photographic exhibition was launched as a sister initiative to Photoville (NYC) in Brooklyn Bridge Park. It was called THE FENCE and has since expanded to Atlanta and Boston. This year, THE FENCE will open in Houston on December 6 (on view through March 31st).

The folks at THE FENCE say they selected Houston because its artists “exemplify the essence of ‘community.’” (Houston may be the most racially and ethnically diverse city in the country, but we’re not sure that boast can yet be claimed by the art community.) To represent the idea of community, artists were asked to submit 3-6 images of works for any or all of the following categories: Creatures, Home, People, Play, Streets, and Nature.

Perhaps in an effort to expand the notion of community, all entries are considered for any or all of the four locations, selected by a jury of more than forty professionals. It sounds like it could be a mess, but at least a flashy mess—500 feet of large-format photographs from artists around the world. Check it out this Sunday between the 3500-3700 blocks of Main Street.

3 comments

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3 comments

Cris December 2, 2015 - 10:23

Weird that you would make these grand assumptions about the Houston art community but wouldn’t even take the time to contact the TWO Houston organizations responsible for bringing the Fence to town. Even one quote from Mid-Main or the Houston Center for Photography would do. I mean, if you’re going to make a statement like that from a position of supposed authority and pretend to have the slightest interest in thorough journalism, it’s the least you could do.

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Paula Newton December 3, 2015 - 09:07

Gosh, Cris, I’m not sure what “grand assumptions” you read into this, but this particular post was not exactly super in-depth journalism, just a short news item about a cool event. Thanks, though, for reminding me that the Houston Center for Photography (along with Mid-Main) was the local organizing force behind THE FENCE. They should be recognized and congratulated.

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islandofmind December 3, 2015 - 10:00

Wow Paula!
That story had the biting criticism of a press release!
You should think carefully before typing such stinging commentary in the future.

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