Dragana's PhotoBlog

Where the 'Other Folk' Dwell

2009-11-10T18:40:03Z

We'll go to the devil's tree And tear it down to see what's underneath We'll dive into the rabbit holes To see those other worlds We'll ban all mirrors and calendars So we won't age There'll always be a place Where we can wash away our sins This journey was definitely one of the best things that happened to me. Long may our friendship and creativity last.

The Little Immigrant Club Is Riding Again

2009-10-20T15:32:55Z

For you who do not know, The Little Immigrant Club is a collective of immigrant photographers that studied together Documentary Photography MFA at University of Wales, Newport and have been awarded the Group Project Grant from Wales Arts International for their collaborative Fairy Forts Project. Members are Italian Alessandro Destro (unfortunately not working with us on this project but will come handy during the edit) , American Gina Brocker (winner of Nikon Discovery Award 2008 and many others), Polish Michal Iwanowski (Flash Magenta Emerging Photographer 2009), Croatian Dragana Jurisic (an Axis MAstar - selection of the most promising artists from the UK's leading MA courses) and honorable Welsh/Egyptian medley Jay Bedwani (awarded the Individual Project Grant from Arts Council of Wales). We have also lost tragically, an amazingly talented Corrina Adams, in February 2009. The origin of “Fairy Forts” is not entirely clear. Some, of what are considered to be ‘fairy forts’ are remains of ‘ringforts’, or circular dwellings build on the island since the Iron Age (according to some findings), and some seems to be an entirely natural phenomenon - a circular formation of trees and vegetation. Through various photographic techniques, four of us aim to explore the mythology and symbolism that these areas still continue to flaunt, in the hope of unearthing some truths related to religion, fanaticism, superstition, fear and the human desire to ascribe significance to the intangible. Each photographer will approach these pieces of land from a unique perspective, culminating in a multi-faceted and intricate final study. An intensive 10 days study in locations around West of Ireland will be followed by a group exhibition and the launch of an interactive website. Let the journey into unknown begin. Corrina watch over us.

Meeting Legendary J.G. Morris, Paris - September 2009

2009-09-29T00:11:09Z

So they say that the best things are a result of string of coincidences. Well, this one definitely is. My friend, Cathy Pearson was not happy with the table she was allocated in Paris restaurant so she asked to be moved. And that's where this story starts. She started talking to a man seated next to her. He invited her back to his apartment across the road for some ice-cream. This man was John G. Morris, a legendary photo editor, now 92 years old. John G. Morris was Life's editor when Capa's film rolls from D-day were destroyed in processing, he managed to salvage a dozen. He was the first picture editor for Magnum agency, picture editor for the Washington Post and The New York Times, and a correspondent editor for National Geographic. He worked with the most distinguished photographers of the 20th century: H. C. Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, W. Eugene Smith, Eugene Richards, to name just a few. He drunk with Hemingway, Lee Miller and Marlene Dietrich during the WW II. When Cathy came back, she said: "When I walked into that library, I could not stop thinking about you". She decided to make a documentary about John's life's work. I got involved as a researcher. We went to visit him two weeks ago in Paris, and I must say that those two days were one of the best in my life. John is an amazing man, intelligent, straight, and after seven decades in 'the business' still hungry to see more. First time in his office/library I felt like I am going to pee myself from happiness. We laughed so much. I held private notes and postcards in my hands of the people who have been my heros for so long. The stories I heard will be with me forever. I asked him can I be buried in his library. We laughed some more. He asked me why I don't put my hair into the curlers, as it was falling into my camera all the time. And we laughed some more. I left my book Seeing Things with him overnight. Did not sleep particularly well that night. To be assessed by a man who worked with the best ... not an easy one. Next day, he opened the door of his apartment and I think he said something like this: "Your book is wonderful and bizarre." Cathy later reminded me that the word 'groundbreaking' was used too. He also gave some constructive criticism, and I must say, I completely agreed with him. I gave John my book and the last time I saw it it was shoulder to shoulder with Capa's book. Not a bad place to be. If I could not stay in that library, at least I found the best possible home for a part of me to live in. Thank you John G. Morris from the bottom of my heart. Dragana

How the Statue Rained Tears For the Drowned Teddy-bear

2009-09-27T22:35:53Z

... and this song is a different story altogether but still...

Trouble Hunter

2009-09-23T16:27:13Z

My dad was right. Eh.

The Past Year's News

2009-09-22T16:48:01Z

... I rarely find time to appraise what I have done up to now. And it's been a busy year, both professionally and privately. (But I'll leave private stuff out for the moment, they would require much more effort and space to categorize and write down.) So let's see what happened since the October 2008 - October 2009: AWARDS AND SELECTIONS: September 2009, Shortlisted for Per Cent for Art Commission, Co. Mayo, Ireland. Decision pending. September 2009, Shortlisted for the Emerging Visual Artist Award 2009, Ireland. Decision pending. August 2009 Nominated by University of Wales, Newport as their choice for Musée de l'Elysée's reGeneration: 50 photographers of tomorrow. Decision pending. July 2009, Wales Arts International supports and funds the forthcoming photographic collaboration - Fairy Forts - between two Wales based (Jay Bedwani, Michal Iwanowski) and two Ireland based (Gina Brocker, Dragana Jurisic) photographers. May 2009, Invited to participate in Florence Biennale 2009 January of 2009, Dragana was selected for the Axis Mastar, an annual online selection of the most promising artists from the UK's leading MA courses. EXHIBITIONS Invited to participate in Florence Biennale 2009, December 2009. October - November 2009, Britain's Rubbish, Decima International Art Projects, Hasenheide 73, Kreuzberg, Berlin, Germany. July - August 2009, Boyle Arts Festival, Boyle, Ireland. July - August 2009, What is Crime? (Best British crime photography), 198 Contemporary Arts and Learning, London, UK. May - June 2009, Circa Salon 2, Thisisnotashop Gallery, Dublin, Ireland. March - April 2009, Seeing Things, solo exhibition, Chapter, Cardiff, Wales, UK. January - February 2009, distill[ed], group exhibition, Menier Gallery, London, UK. December 2008 - February 2009, (Not)a Photograph, Mestna Galerija, Piran, Slovenia. November - December 2008. 178th RHA Annual Exhibition, Royal Hibernian Academy, Dublin, Ireland. October - November 2008. There and Back, Ffotogallery, Turner house, Penarth, Wales, UK. ... Not bad for a year, and I did work my arse off so... well deserved even if I have to say it myself.

Britain's Rubbish (What Went On)

2009-09-19T23:21:40Z

In The George Tavern, London. Fun. Fun. Fun. Next stop Berlin.

The Last Known Portrait of Ex-Family

2009-09-08T22:51:08Z

I've been busy. Lacked words. They are coming back. I can see them.

Britain's Rubbish - Party in London

2009-09-07T20:12:52Z

Met them in Split. Did not really want to meet anyone that day. Had a sun allergy. Broke into million of spots. They turned out to be a great fun. Going to their party in London on the 11th of September. Come.

Grandmother vs. Grandfather

2009-09-03T14:29:18Z

Let's just say, it has not been an easy ride.