5. For Immediate Release
Contact: Jennie Treby
Hidden Resource Group
727-824-6043
hrg@tampabay.rr.com
March 1, 2005
LOCAL ARTIST CHALLENGES THE BOUNDARIES OF POLAROID TO CREATE
AWARD-WINNING PHOTOGRAPH
St. Petersburg, Fla. – Local artist Chuck Vosburgh was pleasantly surprised when he
won first place at the juried Largo Art Fest on Feb. 5, 2005. First place is usually reserved for an
oil painting or a sculpture, not a hand-altered Polaroid photograph. The St. Petersburg native’s
prize-winning creation, “Slide,” is an abstract photograph of a children’s slide showing the dual
nature of everyday objects that often go unnoticed.
In his work, Vosburgh challenges the traditional boundaries of Polaroid photography to
create what he refers to as “impressionistic photographic art.” It is the unconventional process by
which Vosburgh produces his work, however, that makes his photography even more interesting.
In 1987, Vosburgh discovered the basis for his impressionistic photography by accident.
While photographing reference materials for a painting, he noticed that a still-wet Polaroid
carelessly stashed in his bag had been smeared. Nearly 20 years later, Vosburgh is the only artist
in the world to be Polaroid’s featured artist six times.
Vosburgh first photographs his subject with a Polaroid camera. Then, while the
photograph is wet, he manipulates the dyes with dental and hand-made tools. Because Polaroid
photos are so fragile, he has a 15-minute window of opportunity – from the time the photo is
taken to the time it dries – to paint the photo. Vosburgh must work in a sense of urgency, on-site
and in the presence of his subject matter.
13. Important Web Addresses:
The Arts Center
http://theartscenter.org/
Training info, schedules and free stuff
http://www.protechniques.com/
Chuck’s personal web site
http://chuckvosburgh.com/
Chuck’s blog
http://chuckvosburgh.blogspot.com/
Flickr Group for Intro to Digital Photography Class
http://flickr.com/groups/ac_digital_photography/
Flickr Group for Creative Lighting Class
http://www.flickr.com/groups/ac_creative_lighting/
Flickr Group for Studio Lighting Class
http://flickr.com/groups/ac_studio_lighting/
Flickr Group for Photo Walks
http://www.flickr.com/groups/photo_walks/
Chuck’s Flickr Page
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vosburgh/
Phone and E Mail:
Direct Hotline to Chuck’s Bunker: 727.319.2800
Chuck’s Secret Cell Number: 727.743.1740
Chuck’s Personal E Mail Address:chuck@ChuckVosburgh.com
The Arts Center Command Center: 727.822.7872
14. CLASS EVALUATION
Rate the class: Needs
Improvement Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Material was helpful ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Quality of handouts/books ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Sound and Video ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Questions answered ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Room comfort ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Overall experience ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Rate the speaker: Needs
Improvement Fair Good Very Good Excellent
Chuck Vosburgh ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏ ❏
Your comments:
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________________
continue on back if you need more space...
If you’d like to be added to Chuck’s students-only mail list, please give your contact information
below. Privacy Policy: We will not share, sell, rent or give your information with anyone else. Ever.
Name ___________________________________________________________________________________
Title _____________________________________________________________________________________
Company ________________________________________________________________________________
Address__________________________________________________________________________________
City ______________________________________________ State _______ Zip _____________________
E-Mail ___________________________________________________________________________________
15.
16.
17.
18.
19. • Focus on the experience
• Cultivate evangelists
• Hold back nothing
• Stay in touch
• Learn CPR and basic First Aid
• Systemize and Standardize