Susan Burnstine Interviews Isa Leshko for Black+White Photography (UK)

 

The February 2012 issue of Britain’s Black+White Photography magazine will feature an interview between two John Cleary Gallery artists: “Jane-of-all-trades” extraordinaire, Susan Burnstine, and Elderly Animals photographer, Isa Leshko.

Handsome One, Thoroughbred Horse, Age 33

 

“While most people favour beauty and youth to experience and maturity in humans and animals alike, Isa Leshko’s honest portraits of elderly animals make it impossible to deny the grace in aging.  Her portraits can cut to the bone, make us smile and bring tears to the eyes, but, most importantly, they convey a deep respect for her aging subjects.”

Phyllis, Southdown Sheep, Age 13

 

“After learning about Leshko’s project, I suggested she visit Los Angeles so she could photograph my dog Blue who was 19 at the time (now 21). And while it’s true that I am as proud of my dog as any mom could be, I can step away from my personal feelings and acknowledge that she has brilliantly conveyed a pride and defiance in aging through Blue’s perseverance and inner strength. […] And that remarkable tenacity contributes to the core message of Leshko’s poignant series in that she continues to fight against the odds, has reconciled her circumstances, and has found peace in aging.”

Blue, Australian Kelpie, Age 19, No. 1

 

Susan is a regular contributor to Black+White Photography UK’s “American Connection” series; copies may be found at Barnes and Noble retailers nationwide, as well as possible reproduction for iPads through iTunes.

[all quotations taken from the article]

Isa Leshko Recent News and Accolades

 

Photographer Isa Leshko has had quite an exciting past couple of months and the John Cleary Gallery is pleased to share with you a “round-up” of sorts of the recent press regarding acclaim for her Elderly Animal series.

Moonie, Age 32

 

Today’s New York Times Health section featured an article entitled “What We Can Learn from Old Animals”, featuring an interview and collected photographs from the series.

Sassy, Chinese Crested Dog with Heart Disease

 

Isa is also the proud recipient of the Houston Center for Photography’s 2012 Fellowship award, which includes an exhibit from April 27 – June 16, 2012 at HCP.

Finn, Sheep (Age 12)

 

 

NPR recently did a story on Isa entitled “To Cope with Her Mother’s Illness, Photographer Focuses on Aging Animals”, which also features the below video created by Wally Films:

 

Elderly Animals: Photographs by Isa Leshko from Mark & Angela Walley on Vimeo.

 

Please note that as of January 15, 2010 the prices for all of Isa’s work will be increasing across the board.  For more information please visit our previous blog post on the matter here.

Congratulations, Isa!

Isa Leshko Prices to Increase

 

Effective January 15, 2012 the prices for all of Isa Leshko’s work will be raised—if you’ve been on the fence regarding making a purchase then now’s the time to act!

Point Pleasant, NJ #1, 2006. From the series “Thrills and Chills”

 

Embden Goose, Age 28. From the series “Elderly Animals”

 

Leshko’s work has received widespread international praise, so take advantage of the current prices before the higher ones go into effect in the new year!

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.

Isa Leshko at Houston Arts Alliance

John Cleary Gallery’s own Isa Leshko will have her first solo exhibition in Houston at the Houston Arts Alliance, in conjunction with Houston Center for Photography, entitled Thrills and Chills. The opening reception for Thrills and Chills will be held at the Alliance Gallery, Houston Arts Alliance, 3201 Allen Parkway, Houston, TX on Thursday, October 14, from 6 – 8 p.m. The exhibition will run through December 31, 2010 and will be accompanied by a limited edition catalogue, available for purchase at the opening reception.




Isa Leshko, Point Pleasant, NJ 1, from the series Thrills and Chills
2006, gelatin silver print

 Leshko’s Thrills and Chills series consists of darkly printed black and white gelatin silver photographs. The images are scenes from amusement parks, county fairs, and along boardwalks, taken with a Holga, often considered a toy camera. Leshko uses her camera to examine her own fears and emotions, all the while depicting the range of emotions other people experience while visiting amusement parks in search of adrenaline pumping rides.



Isa Leshko, Disenchantment from the series Thrills and Chills
2010, gelatin silver print

Isa Leshko’s prints from Thrills and Chills will be available to purchase through the John Cleary Gallery.  Images from the Thrills and Chills series begin at $600.  Please call, e-mail, or come by the John Cleary Gallery to view more of Isa’s work.

Found

Tom Hawkins

Obelisk and Meeting House:  Bonaire

platinum and palladium print 2000/2010

Found is an exhibition that brings recently discovered and emerging artists to the public eye and gives them a chance to display their work in a professional setting. This is the second Found exhibition the John Cleary Gallery has hosted. The artists selected to be in this show were hand picked by Catherine Couturier, the owner of the John Cleary Gallery, for their uniqueness, quality, and craftsmanship. The artists in Found were discovered in Houston’s FotoFest and New Orlean’s PhotoNOLA.

Michael Donnor
Elizabeth
waxed gelatin silver print

FotoFest’s portfolio reviews at the Meeting Place occur biennially and PhotoNOLA’s portfolio reviews take place annually. Both events offer the opportunity for artists to get their work exposure and for the reviewers to see the latest and most contemporary work not yet on the market. These mutually beneficial experiences were the catalyst behind Found.

John Chervinsky

All Watched Over

archival pigment ink, 2005

Found features artists who hail from as far away as Switzerland to as close by as Houston. Artists selected to be in the exhibition are Darryl Baird, Edward Eakins, EJ Major, Elaine Ling, Ferit Kuyas, Gerald Pisarzowski, Isa Leshko, Jessica Somers, John Chervinsky, John D’Agostino, Michael Donnor, Niniane Kelley, Robert Covington, Renate Aller, Tom Hawkins, and Trudy Cohen. Found will be each artist’s first exhibition at the John Cleary Gallery.

John D'Agostino

The Arms of Undertow

archival pigment ink on canvas, 2008

Come by the gallery and see what we Found!

Isa Leshko at John Cleary Gallery

Disenchantment

One of our photographers, Isa Leshko, has been receiving a myriad of press, reviews, and praise. Her series “Thrills and Chills” is delighting the public and critics alike with her darkly printed silver gelatin images of scenes from amusement parks, which are taken with a Holga. In this series Leshko uses her camera to examine her own fears and depict the range of emotions people experience visiting amusements parks and seeking out adrenaline pumping rides.

Swing Ride at the Big E

Isa was featured in the March issue of Fraction Magazine and was reviewed by Pulitzer Prize winner Mark Feeney in the April 30, 2010 edition of the Boston Globe. In the blogging world, Isa and her work have been included on NPR, Lenscratch, and Center for Fine Art Photography’s Perspectives blogs.

Rooster, Age Unknown

Over the past several months Isa has been honored in various ways.  She has been accepted to the esteemed Review Santa Fe as well as Project 5 Portfolio Review.  Her work has been featured in RayKo Photo Center’s International Plastic Camera Show, accepted into Center for Fine Art Photography’s Portfolio Showcase Volume 4 online exhibition and book, nominated for the second year in a row for a Black and White Spider Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fine Art in the professional category, and she received honorable mention in the 2010 Houston Center for Photography Juried Fellowship Competition for her Elderly Animals project.

Moonie, Age 32

Recently Isa’s work was on exhibit at the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, MA, from April 8 - May 9, 2010 and five of her prints are now in the collection of the Boston Public Library.  Isa’s work will be featured in our upcoming show Found, which will open July 10th this summer. 

Pirate Ship, Topsfield Fair, MA

Isa recently moved to Houston, and if you would like to come by the gallery to meet her and see her beautiful work (with prices starting at $600), just give us a call or shoot us an email. We'll make the arrangements. 

Sassy, Chinese Crested Dog with Heart Disease