Bridging A Gap
Last week, timing allowed for a very nice visit with photographer Jamey Stillings. He sent me a message on Facebook asking if I was available for dinner as he was on his way to Tucson for some meetings regarding a project he is currently working on.
It had been several years since I had last seen Jamey in Santa Fe. Possibly more than a decade. Our most recent visitors staying in the guest house had just headed back to the midwest that morning, so Jamey was able to stay here. Fortunate for us as we got to spend some time with him, catch up, and talk about this prodigious project he is undertaking.
You see, folks are building a bridge at the Hoover Dam spanning the deep canyon carved out by the Colorado River. (By folks I mean an enormous team of government agencies and contractors.)
Jamey first began photographing the construction in March of 09. The New York Times Magazine published a spread of the images in June last year and it continues to find its way into various national and international publications.
The first formal showing of the work in a gallery space was presented at the Photo Eye Gallery in Santa Fe on Garcia Street last fall. They have a great book store there as well and there is a terrific coffee shop right next door. It's at the base of Canyon Road—incredible gallery hopping. But that's another blog entry.
This architecturally significant and impressive engineering feat has captured his imagination. Feeling passionate about it, as is quite evident when talking to him and seeing the images, he has taken it upon himself to document the continued construction of the bridge to be named, The Mike O'Callahan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge.
With some thirty years of experience as a photographer Jamey is a true artist. To try to describe his work in terms of immaculate lighting, harmonic composition, or any of the traditional descriptions of fine photography (though they certainly apply) seems to belittle the actual work. When I try to share in words with friends and colleagues some of these images he has created they say, "wow... sounds cool." When I direct them to his web site to view some of the images they respond with something to the tune of, "Holy shit! I had no idea. Those are freakin' amazing!"
I've always been impressed with Jamey's work—my first introduction in Santa Fe in 1995. He had just relocated from Rochester, New York to the Old Lamy Schoolhouse outside of Santa Fe, seeking a studio manager. He hired me, and for close to a year I was able to rub shoulders with him while he worked.
Since meeting him, way back when, I've had a great appreciation and respect for Jamey and his work. This damn project he's got going now steps all of that up to sincere admiration. I'm left inspired.
Cheers, Jamey.
Please visit the site for this project: The Bridge at Hoover Dam