Inspired by love and loss of families in my communities, these portraits are a rich exposition of families that I am connected to through my own children and family.
In my invitation letter to this first group of families, I offered that I be allowed to come into their homes, make a photograph, and exhibit it publicly in exchange for an exhibition quality print, the digital file, and permission for the families to share it on social media.
I’d like to make a portrait of your family, in your home.
I’d like for you to think about and discuss where your family’s favorite place in your home is, and I’ll come and photograph you there. I’ll be thinking about light and stuff, so that doesn’t have to be your primary concern, but perhaps there is also a certain time of day that the place becomes your favorite place. I’ll do my best to make everyone as photogenic as possible with my simple picture taking and lighting apparatus, but dress your family however you’d like to see them.
Why am I doing this?
I feel that our families have a connection through our children’s school, through dinners or parties, but most essentially through our homes and the rooms we inhabit when we get together, socialize and play. I’m a collector, too, so I want to keep you in my menagerie as a way of keeping you in my heart.
See more Dear Family photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marctasman/sets/72157633838996256/
EXHIBITION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Excerpts from Dear Family, I Love You are on view during the month of July, 2014 at the Back House Gallery in Ann Arbor, Michigan. For a viewing, contact proprietors Rebekah Modrak (rmodrak[at]umich) or Nick Tobier (nicktob[at]umich).
A series of twelve photos from Dear Family, I Love You is on view at the Founders Hall Art Gallery at UW-Manitowoc from October 3 through November 7, 2013. Gallery Talk by the Artist Marc Tasman on October 17, 10am.
The gallery is open weekdays from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information contact Berel Lutsky, Associate Professor of Art, at 920-683-4735 or by e-mail to berel.lutsky@uwc.edu.
Founders Hall Art Gallery: http://manitowoc.uwc.edu/campus/news/releases/uw-manitowoc-gallery-features-tasman-photography
The Exhibition for the Jewish Artists’ Laboratory of Milwaukee goes up the first week of June, 2013 in the Marcus Pavilion (near the Cafe, outside the Community Hall) of the Harry and Rose Samson Jewish Community Center and will remain until August 14. More about the Artists’ Lab here: http://www.jccmilwaukee.org/artists-lab
The Laboratory theme of this year for the three cities participating–Milwaukee, Madison, and Minneapolis– is Text/Context/Subtext. Milwaukee’s exhibition title is Reading Between The Lines, and I’ve got a series of eight family portraits in the show entitled, “Dear Family, I Love You.”
Exhibition Schedule
Opening Night coinciding with the JCC Annual meeting . . . Wednesday, June 5. The reception will be 6:45 – 7:30. (I’ll be there for this part). The Artists’ Lab and exhibition will be announced at the meeting itself after 7:30. The reception will continue after the meeting.
Grand Opening . . . Thursday, June 20, 7:00 – 9:30 pm. Program, 7:45 – 8:30.(Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend, but last year’s was very lively and fun).
The exhibit will remain up through August 14th.
See more Dear Family photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/marctasman/sets/72157633838996256/
MARC TASMAN 
That’s just great, Marc.