Page 5 - MyAmerica_Gordon_F_Sander
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European nation in 1998, so too is Latvia after emerging from its own far more
 arduous “Soviet time.” This exhibit, which also coincides with Latvia’s centennial,
 is intended to celebrate that, as well as Latvian-American friendship, as well as
 my own blossoming relationship with Latvija.


 Fortunately, and blessedly, I have a much larger exhibition space to work with
 this time—in effect, an entire building, or most of it, the building in question
 in question being the magnificent, 59 year old revarnished and renovated VEF
 Culture Palace in Riga.


 My co-curator, the photographer Loreal Prysyaj, and I, have tried to take full
 advantage of the opportunity, organizing the exhibit in semi-circular fashion,
 as well as one which emphasizes the strengths of my oeuvre, while flowing   GOTHAM
 from East to West. Thus the photos of New York City and Cornell are mounted
 in the ground floor Gallery area; then the visitor enters the Vestibule where
 the “American Miscellany” -U.S. sans New York and California—and Portraits
 are exhibited, before ending his or her journey on the balcony with the West
 World collection.   The city seen from the Queensboro Bridge is in
                     some ways the city seen for the first time, in all its
 Profuse thanks to Chad Twitty, the public affairs officer of US Embassy Riga   promise and mystery and beauty.
 for catalyzing the exhibit, including securing a generous grant from the U.S.
 government. Ditto his marvelous colleagues, Sintija Jurgelane and Lauma   - F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
 Bruvele. I also am very grateful to Liene Kubilius and Sandra Zandberga, the
 director and artistic director of the Culture Palace, for affording me the great
 privilege of mounting My America 2 in their capacious house.
                     Everything  in  New York is  a photograph. All  the
 I am deeply indebted to Dace Liga Saukuma, my creative associate and chief   things that are supposed to be dirty or rough and
 Latvian aide-de-camp for overseeing and expediting virtually every aspect of   unrefined are the most beautiful things.
 the exhibit, including the publication of this catalog. A heartfelt liels paldies to
 Linda Lukasinska and Māra Vulfa of NRG Art House, for designing it. Thanks,   - Ann-Marie MacDonald, Fall on Your Knees
 too, to my friend and fellow photographer, Loreal Prystaj, for helping me select
 the ingredients for this pictorial bouillabaise, and serving it.

 - Gordon F. Sander










 Photo of me by Steven Albahari
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