I See A Darkness

Quick Announcement (also from the better late than never department):

My two-year project Homeless in Seattle is now on display at Seattle City Hall through August 1, 2008, featuring 25 large format black and white photographs on two levels.

I will write more soon about the process of this and about the opening, but just wanted to make sure we were all on the same page and aware that this was up in the first place! Thanks!

So this announcement is coming a few weeks late, as these stories have been up on my website and out to editors for awhile, but let’s ‘officially’ announce the two latest projects I’ve been working on.

Kosovo: New Born is my latest story from the newest country in the world, shot in June 2008. I followed up my 2007 story with an investigation in to the economic and social prospects of a new born country struggling to get to its feet and survive in a difficult political environment.

My other announcement is the latest installment of my long-term New York City project called I See A Darkness. These images are from a 7 day trip to the city this past April.

As always, complete stories are available at my website: www.mattlutton.com. Licensing through either The Photoshelter Collection or my new European partner Invision-Images.

Stay tuned for more announcements through this blog, including, hopefully, a wrap up of my latest exhibition here in Seattle (Homeless in Seattle at City Hall) and a recap of my latest Balkan adventure.

I’m starting work on a new ‘America’ project … lots still to be done before anything can go public much less have some pictures to show, but this song is very much an underwriting inspiration. (Unfortunately I can’t get a youtube vid to embed here, so click the link).

“Horses (Lost Blues Version)” by Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy.

Those in the know will remember that my New York project I See A Darkness is also inspired by some of Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s music … namely his album of the same name

Well, I’m back in Seattle after a month of working in New York and the Balkans and I totally failed on my goal to keep updates through here. Damn. Well, I hope to post more regularly in the near future and keep people up to date with some things I’ve got going on, so stay tuned.

In the mean time, the latest issue of The FADER has hit the streets and it has my portrait of Seattle-based band Whalebones. They’ve got some great stuff, check them out. You can also download the full issue of FADER 55 as a pdf here.

Dear readers, I’ve been featured a little bit in the past couple of weeks in the blogosphere, particularly in regards to an award, the 2008 Elevation Award from the Photoshelter Collection, as selected by editors from the New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, The Fader, Nylon and Spin.

Have a look at Elevation Student Contest 2008 and Matt Lutton (5/7) and Matt Lutton Redux (5/12) on Shoot! The Blog at Photoshelter.

On the second link you can find a short interview with me, which details some of my upcoming activities, I quote:

What’s next for you? What would be a dream job?

Next for me is tying up the loose ends with the old projects and negotiating details about new assignments. First up is the Homeless project, which I’ll shooting, editing and fundraising for right up until the opening in July. One of my most personal projects is the New York work in ‘I See A Darkness’, which I’ll be soon be independently publishing with some friends, one a designer and the other an essayist, and I’ve got to finish the 35 more rolls of film I shot for it in New York last week. Upcoming is the story in Moldova, which hopefully will happen at the end of the summer. In the middle, I’m trying to negotiate a quick trip back to the Balkans later this month to visit friends, do research for my eventual relocation to Belgrade and hopefully shoot an assignment or two.

My dream job actually is in my sights right now, as I’ve proposed it as my thesis project, and I’m working through oodles of grant proposals for that as I type. I don’t want to give too much away, but it is to take place in Eastern Siberia and will be the ultimate confluence of my academic and personal interests in Russia and my documentary interests in the people and politics of underrepresented and critical issues. In this case, it is about rising nationalism, oil wealth and environmental and social degradation. Meaty stuff, stay tuned this fall to see how it all comes together!

So stay tuned: I’m off to New York for some more meetings on Monday May 19, then to Belgrade May 22 and will be traveling/working through June 18 (my birthday!) when I’m back to NYC for three days. Then to finishing an exhibition for the Veteran Affairs (VA) office in Seattle and the Homeless Exhibition at Seattle City Hall in July. Exciting times!!!

If I keep on top of things, you should also see some post from the Balkans again as I travel around this next month. Thanks for keeping up with me and my stagnant lapses with this site. Hope you’re well!

Been a busy, wonderful week. Here are a couple of pix I snapped with my cell phone. From snow in Seattle (including my Mom and some last minute portfolio editing) to Brighton Beach sun. The Good Life.

In town through Wednesday (have a bunch of nice meetings with mags and friends left) and I’ll be continuing to shoot the I See a Darkness work, if I can afford the film costs. $4/roll for tri-x? Insane.

Think it isn’t happening? Bullshit.

5″ and counting here in Seattle. In April. Latest snowfall ever, I think. Insane.

I’ll be in the City from 4/23 - 4/30, meeting on an assignment, a presentation to an agency and seven more days of shooting for my I See A Darkness project. Beyond this, lots of interesting things coming up (assignment to E. Europe, book project of ‘Darkness’, Homeless project exhibition at City Hall, Veterans Affairs exhibition of a Balkans Portfolio, and more). Stay in touch.. and if you’re in the City and want to grab a beer, let me know.

My friend M. Scott Brauer told me that I need to start posting on here again, so here we go with an easy one.

To anyone in/near Seattle, I’ll be having an opening/artist reception this Thursday, 6-8pm at Glazer’s Gallery, to coincide with an exhibition I have hanging now through May 1. I’m showing a small selection of large prints from my three-year project on New York City which I call “I See a Darkness”. More of the project can be seen on my website: http://www.mattlutton.com .

Come drop by for some wine, beer and cheese and a look at the work. If I get my stuff together I’ll even have some promos or dummies of my forthcoming self-published book of the same project, which will be open to pre-orders at a special price.

The gallery is in the rental store of Glazer’s Camera in South Lake Union ( 517 Dexter Avenue North). If you have questions or need directions, let me know.

Lastly, I’m proud to show off a great web magazine put out by some friends of mine in Belgrade, called Xaoc (chaos). This same project is featured, but also check out the amazing work from the other photographers from around the world, I’m honored to be included in this issue. Have a look: http://mag.xaocphoto.com/v2/

Thanks and hope to see you out this Thursday!

Any editors or backers out there? Things are reaching the breaking point in Kosovo and I need to be there to cover this. Take a look and ask me questions! December 10 is the big date on the calendar now..

Here’s my Kosovo Proposal:

Kosovo: On The Edge
The First Battle of the New Cold War?

Matt Lutton
www.mattlutton.com
November, 2007

Executive Summary:
1) Kosovo is precipitously close to the announcement of unprecedented independence, never before seen in the history of this region.
2) Serbia, supported by Russia, officially sees this outcome as patently unacceptable. Russia insists this is a ‘dangerous precedent’ that might impact Chechnya, Abkhazia and Transniestr.
3) Paramilitary activity by both Kosovo Serb and Kosovar Albanian factions increases likelihood of clashes when independence comes.
4) The dramatic finale to an international mission started in 1999 following UN bombing of Kosovo and Serbia promises to cast important light on the role of the UN, EU, US and Russia in this new age of international relations: this is a landmark case which will underscore the next decade of relations between these entities.

Introduction:

The republic of Kosovo has been actively fighting for its independence from Serbia for decades. Now, in the shadow of the ‘99 airwar led by the US and NATO, the conclusion of the “final status” is closer than ever. Standing in the way is a steadfast Serbia and its guarantor Russia, both of which are pushing against what is essentially a guarantee of independence by the US and EU.

“At some point in time, sooner or later, you have to say enough is enough, Kosovo is independent.” - George W. Bush, comments from Tirana, Albania 6/10/07

The political fight surrounding Kosovo has reached its highest levels of international diplomacy and is a central issue in this new era of US and Russian relations. Thus this new political battle over Kosovo can be seen as the first battle of the resurgent Cold War. As one analyst says:

“Moscow is attempting to use Serbia as a bargaining chip, as well as a tool with which to keep the West occupied far from Russia’s borders as it consolidates power. Putin needs a crisis to prove that Russia can go head-to-head with the West, and Kosovo fits the bill.” June, 2007.

The Kosovo story is of paramount international importance and is in need of much more attention than it currently receives. After years of what many may see as a successful peacekeeping and nation-building mission the current international mandate is running out, and patience among both Serbs and Albanians is wearing thin. Kosovo is sitting precipitously on the edge of change, waiting for the international community to pull its commitments and differences together and push forward. But with what means and what chances? The shaky foundation of Balkan politics and relations promises to make Kosovo’s future transition incredibly precarious. International supervision, and forces, are a very important stabilizing force but require a delicate touch. Forcing both humanitarian and political attention on this subject will help ensure a successful and non-violent outcome.

Having a photographer on the ground, especially one who is tied into the local community and is knowledgeable of both the subtle politics and oppressive weight of this region’s history, will be essential to coverage of the important and historical moments that are so near. Besides my photojournalistic background, I have spent months in this region studying and working within the local politik and have a University background in the Security Affairs of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

Continue reading ‘Want to send me to Kosovo?’