The Star Streets, Wan Chai, Hong Kong SAR

This part of Wan Chai is called the “star streets” because it was the sight of Hong Kong’s first power plant. As the neighborhood’s name suggests, the streets have names like “sun,” “moon,” “star,” and “electric.” Now it’s a “quietly hip corner of town (thanks, lonely planet)” with a sweet sensibility, Winston and Talisker’s new veterinarian office, and a Blue Bottle coffee. Yep, that Blue Bottle. These are from my walk the other day.

September from the Studio

Hello!

I love September in New York. The warm autumn light and the cool, dry air give the streets sharp relief. The whisper of winter is still far away; the city bustles with anticipation of a new season.

I wanted to share two quick exhibition notes and some news from the studio.

My photograph "May 15, 2020" is on view at Dab Art's exhibit Art in the Time of Corona, Vol.3, showcasing artwork from all disciplines created during the pandemic.

“May 15, 2020,” Jared Fortunato, 2020

Also, you can see "Green Park," a digital photograph and montage from my Transcription series at the Marin Society of the Arts. It's part of their "Through the Lens 2022" exhibition, which opens today!

“Green Park,” Jared Fortunato, 2015

Finally, if you've been following along on social media, you might have heard that my new e-comm shop is live! Find the store on the website, on my new Facebook page Arté Fortunato, and Instagram. I'm excited to serve you limited edition artwork from the comfort of your computer and mobile device.

Thank you for sharing this work with me! I love what I do and know it doesn’t happen without you. Here’s to finding inspiration and beauty together.

Art in Transformative Times

I remember when I took this photo- it was the middle of May 2020, and it seemed like the disruptions brought by COVID were settling into something nearly permanent. I recall feeling moved by the vulnerability of this tree outlined in the setting sun. And the hopeful stance of the lone person on a usually crowded sidewalk.

I also remember feeling compelled to document the metamorphosis occurring around me. Most of the time, I operated by instinct or feeling, never quite sure what I wanted to capture, only convinced that I needed to do it.

I am sharing this story to let you know how grateful I am that my work has not been in vain. This image was part of a show at the Michael Foley Gallery here in New York in the summer of 2020 and now finds its way to a publication and exhibition created by Dab Art, Austin, called "Art in the Time of Corona, Vol. 3."

More information is forthcoming, including relevant links and how to see the work. For now, enjoy the image and the vitality of sunshine, where ever you are.

Postcards from The Edge

I love sending postcards. Many of you have probably received one or two from me over the last few years. And since I don't have all your addresses, I'd like to send you this message: greetings from the tip of the Cape. I wish you were here.

Writing notes and letters is one of my great joys. If you'd like an ACTUAL paper postcard from me, send me your address.

Jared

PS: Today is my birthday! Celebrate with me, do something kind for yourself or someone you love.

Beach Day

I shared this image in a brief message to some of my studio friends and wanted to make it available to you, even if you’ve not joined our email list.

Consider signing up! It’s always worth the read. I pursue this work to bring more peace into the world, to remind you, my viewer, of the beauty of each moment.

I also work to remind myself of the same thing- that even amid challenging times, there is always light if you look for it.

That’s why I love photography and photo-based art so much. Without light, we can’t see. That’s deeper than I planned to get this Friday morning here in New York City, but there you have it.

So enjoy this moment. Look at something beautiful today. Here's hoping the rest of your summer is full of memorable moments, magical places, and peace of mind.

Why Hollywood?

I realized my commitment to this Hollywood project might be unclear if you don't know me well. I love it. I show it every chance I get. I put it under museum glass. I printed it on metal. And I mounted it on acrylic for The Other Art Fair last month. 

Why this push to share it when I'm now in a new city doing new work? I wonder myself. 

I'm attached to it for several reasons, though the most important is the idea that a photograph can somehow capture the physical, emotional, and spiritual essence of a space. And that most places exist in our minds as well as on maps. 

Hollywood (the place, not the project) seems to embody these ideas perfectly. When I moved to LA, I was shocked at how different the area was from the vision I had in my mind. If you've ever been there, you know what I mean. Hollywood is gritty. The "walk of fame" leads to McDonald's or a Starbucks, and the most famous people you'll see are the several Marlyn Monroes and Supermans hustling tourists for tips. 

But still– it's Hollywood. Say the word out loud and see if you can help yourself from feeling a bit more glamorous. That's what I love about the place. It is sad, hopeful, mythic, and authentic. That's what I love about the work. Each photograph represents the hopes, fears, aspirations, and dreams I had walking those streets and how I felt them reflected in the sun's rays or the curve of a palm tree.

 So at its core, my Hollywood is an invitation– to look at your world with the same set of open eyes and open heart. See what it is that's around you and appreciate it for what it is. 

To see more of the project, and its latest iteration in acrylic, head over to my Saatchi Art profile. If you see something you like, let me know. And as always, alternate sizes, substrates, and print surfaces are available. 

The Power of Intention (and an invitation)

Super excited to invite you to this year’s Other Art Fair in Brooklyn. Not only will I share space with some of the best new artists in the field, I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that when you put something out in the universe, count on it coming right back. I forget this sometimes. When I’m stressed or unfocused (or hungry.) But really, this event is an example of how thoughts shape reality. 

Last year, I attended this fair with a dear friend of mine. As soon as I walked in, I looked around, and said to her “I want to be here next year.” 

And Just Like That….

Here are the details- Seriously, would love to see you there and catch up. As a visitor and now exhibitor, I can tell you it is really worthwhile and a lot of fun.  <<DM Email me here if you’re getting tickets!>>

HOURS

Thursday, June 2: 6pm-10pm

Friday, June 3: 3pm-10pm

Saturday, June 4: 11am-7pm

Sunday, June 5: 11am-6pm

VENUE

Knockdown Center

52-19 Flushing Ave
Maspeth, NY

New York, Now.

New York, Now

I hired a coach recently to help sort through my work. We talked about my approach to art and what motivated me to tell stories through my photographs. She commented on my grandfather’s story, which I shared in a previous blog post, and my current work in New York City. She connected his experience and my own, saying something like, of course, your work is about New York City during a pandemic. It’s part of your genetic history.

I got goosebumps when I heard that. My grandfather came to this country as a survivor of the influenza pandemic 100 years ago. The virus killed his family, and he came to New York, a child with no English starting a life with a family he did not know.

Of course.

We were both survivors of a pandemic in New York City, making sense of a changing world. And as my pandemic raged around me and the city went strangely, beautifully, and ominously quiet, I took out my camera and roamed around.

Looking at the work through these eyes, I feel the deeper histories at work in my images. They have more meaning in this context; the emotions of each frame tug at my heart a little more than they did. In hindsight, I realized that I needed New York, too.

Exhibition Lab @ Michael Foley Gallery

Installation shots from “Ides,” the project I created during a Covid spring. Michael Foley Gallery, New York

Jared Fortunato, “Ides,” @ Michael Foley Gallery
July 2020

Opening receptions, “Exhibition Lab,” Michael Foley Gallery
July 2020

SoHo Photo Gallery Exhibition - Final Days

Installation images from the recent Krappy Kamera competition and exhibition at the SoHo Photo Gallery. So honored to be included among the participants. Not so thrilled with the title <grin>. My little Diana is anything but a Krappy Kamera, and I do understand the idea behind the show. All work was created with plastic or some sort of alternative lens. A real celebration of beautiful imperfections.