Fran Forman Artist Talk At PPF Members General Meeting On November 15

We are delighted to have Photographer Fran Forman as our guest speaker (via Zoom) on Monday, November 15 at 7:00pm.

Fran’s second major photobook, the widely acclaimed The Rest Between Two Notes, was published by Unicorn in 2020. At 224 pages with 110 plates, several essays, writings, and an introduction by Griffin Museum director Paula Tagnorelli, it is exquisitely produced by Artron, which specializes in high-quality art books. In this presentation, Fran will describe the thinking behind this unique book’s creation, the processes and the ups and downs of such a massive undertaking.

By integrating her contemporary photography with historical periods and various settings from around the world, Forman creates a world of illusion; upon closer inspection, what appears ordinary suggests an underlying tension and an aura of mystery. Expressed in the diffused colors of twilight and chiaroscuro, her images blur the boundaries between photography, late Renaissance painting, and film noir.

Fran dedicates the book to those who take the time to participate IN THE CONVERSATION THAT IS ART. Recognizing that each viewer takes away her or his own experience from a piece of art, Forman has structured this book with impressions from artists and others to her works. The result is fascinating as one gains insights into the viewers as well as the art, enriching the experience and encouraging the reader to articulate his or her own impressions.

Fran’s images have been exhibited widely, both locally and internationally, and are in many private collections as well the permanent collections of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum (Washington, DC), the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, The Grace Museum (Texas), the Sunnhordland Museum (Norway), Western Carolina University Fine Art Museum, the Comer Collection at the University of Texas, and the County Down Museum (Northern Ireland).

Fran is represented by AfterImage Gallery (Dallas), Pucker Gallery (Boston), , SusanSpiritus Gallery (California), Galeria Photo/Graphica (San Miguel de’Allende, Mexico), and Sohn Fine Art Gallery (Lenox, MA). She is an Affiliated Scholar at the Women’s Studies Research Center at Brandeis University, a recipient of several grants and Artist Residencies, and teaches advanced photo-collage internationally.

Fran studied art and sociology at Brandeis University, received an MSW in psychiatric social work, and then an MFA from Boston University. In 2018 she was the Commencement Speaker at The New England School of Photography, where she also received an Honorary Degree. She resides in the New England area.

If you are a current member of the Portland Photographers’ Forum, you should already have your Zoom credentials in an email. If you are not a member, you may join by clicking the “Join The Community” button at the top of this page. You may also request a guest pass from the President by clicking here.

For more on Fran Forman's Publications, Exhibitions and Awards go to www.franforman.com

Who’s July 4th (detail) by Fran Forman from her Instagram feed