Dear Colleagues,
Welcome to our second edition of VOICES, this one solely devoted to the art and creativity of photography. We received a fantastic response from members of the IRP who contributed their efforts to the editors and judges in our inaugural issue of VOICES PHOTOGRAPHY.
Living in the center – the heart – of the most stimulating and creative location in the world, it’s no surprise that The New School for decades has been at the forefront of photography. Beginning in 1934, the school was one of the first institutions of higher learning to offer photography as a course; the renowned Berenice Abbott began instructing students in this discipline. Dozens of “stars” have followed in her footsteps, among them Lisette Model, Larry Fink and Diane Arbus. New School students are surrounded by hundreds of classic art works in The Vera List Collection, art in all media touching on issues of social justice whose home is in the halls and classrooms of our school.
The IRP always has had its share of strong photographers and photography courses. VOICES PHOTOGRAPHY has now given us a proper venue to display the skills, insights and beauty of these photographs. Technology has advanced our cause greatly. Our cell phones have given us an immediate response to the events in our lives as we experience them. One of our editors, Robin Sacknoff, is a professional photographer and instructor who only uses an iPhone in her work.
I want to thank Robin Sacknoff and Marshall Marcovitz, our Co-Editors, along with their staff of judges—Victor Goldin, Peter Houts and Claude Samton—for their work on this first issue. I also want to thank Charles Troob, our Associate Editor, who really makes this all happen. We gratefully thank former Associate Publisher, Ron Russo, who was instrumental in getting our initial online issue out the door and welcome Lynne Schmelter-Davis as his replacement. Marianne Nelson has joined our staff in the much-needed newly created position of Director of Promotion and Publicity.
I’m thrilled with the results, but somehow not surprised. You are in for a pleasurable experience. Please enjoy the eighty winning photographs of VOICES PHOTOGRAPHY.
Sincerely,
Tom Ashley, Publisher