A Photographic Leap Day

 

In celebration of Leap Day—the best of all temporally related quadrennial celebrations—I thought it would be fun to take a photographic look at the “art of the leap.”

But first, let’s take a moment to define what is, and what is, not a leap. For instance….

NOT a leap: George Zimbel – Marilyn Monroe, Looking Left

A sixteenth-hearted effort if I’ve ever seen one.  Let someone else have the spotlight for once, Marilyn!

 

ALMOST a leap: Henry Horenstein – Miss Saturn, Outside Slipper Room, New York, NY 2008

Nice fake-out, Miss Saturn, but no matter how celestial your pose (and name) may be… your stance remains a tad too Earthbound for my taste

 

Leap: Ruth Orkin - Boy Jumping Into Hudson River, 1948

Now THAT’S how it’s done!

 

Culturally, the French appear to be quite adept in their leaptitude, which is unmistakable in this duo of jump-themed pieces.

Yves Klein –Le Saut dans le vide, 1960

 

  Henri Cartier-Bresson – Behind the Gare Saint-Lazare, 1932

 

Jacques-Henri Latrigue – Bichonnade Leaping

 

Fear not, patriots, for while the French Leap does appear prominently in the photographic realm, we all know the Freedom Leap is equally entertaining.

Loomis Dean – Man Flying Off a Trampoline at Santa Monica Beach

 

Susan Burnstine – Jump

 

Dance is rife with leap photo-ops, and American modern dance queen, Martha Graham, shows up prominently in photography of the mid-20th century. Let’s combine the two, shall we?

Barbara Morgan – Graham Group, American Document; Sophie Maslow, Frieda Flier and Marforie Mazia (Starburst) 1938

 

Phillipe Halsman – Merce Cunningham, leaping and Martha Graham, sitting

 

Apparently umbrellas play an integral part in the “leap shot,” as is evident in the following rainy day photos.

Richard Avedon – Homage to Munkasci, 1957

 

Elliott Erwitt – Paris, 1989 (Tour Eiffel)

 

Like to see some of these works in person?  Never purchased a work of fine art photography? Take the LEAP (see what I did there?!) and stop on in the John Cleary Gallery.  Happy Leap Day everyone… and don’t forget those umbrellas!

Deck the Walls

Deck the Walls is an annual group exhibition of vintage and contemporary pieces that allows John Cleary Gallery to showcase a variety of artists, prices ranges, styles, and photographic mediums.  Deck the Walls will feature gallery favorites such as Elliott Erwitt, Maggie Taylor, Jeffrey Becom, Mitch Dobrowner, Takeshi Shikama, along with several others.  There will be something here for everyone’s budget and taste.

AIPAD The Photography Show

The Association of Photography Art Dealers (AIPAD) will hold its annual art fair, The Photography Show, Thursday, March 18 - Sunday, March 21 at the Park Avenue Armory in New York City. We will be exhibiting along with 90 of the best photography galleries and private dealers from around the world. This year celebrates the 30th anniversary of this prestigious organization! Happy Birthday, AIPAD!

We are so proud to be a member of this amazing organization that fosters a community of knowledge, friendship, and passion in the world of photography. We hope you will be able to visit us in booth 118, where we will be featuring new works by Mitch Dobrowner, Maggie Taylor, Jessica Somers, Dan Burkholder, and Charles Grogg, along with historic works by such luminaries as Henri Cartier-Bresson and Robert Doisneau. For the first time, we will also be showcasing the beautiful books of 21st Editions. I think it will be our best art fair yet, and I cannot wait to see my many friends in the business.

$1 off for anyone who mentions this blog! Just kidding. $5 off.