'Run your fingers through your hair!" Otherwise it looks like a melted candy bar!'
When artist Robert John Guttke died two summers ago, I wrote in my tribute about all the stories and images that he'd shared. With just over 10 years of friendship and correspondence, there were hundreds of stories and thousands of images stored in the regular e-mails we shared. Many of the images, and many of the stories, were not meant to be shared. I know this, as Robert was very direct about which images, which models and especially which stories, he supported my sharing on FH.
Since his death, I've done a couple of pieces, trying not to overutilize the gifts Robert left me. At the same time, I am committed to ensuring his legacy is remembered. In the last few years of his life, Robert spent money he didn't have, on expensive scanners to digitize his work. For decades Robert worked exclusively in film, but understood clearly, much of it would be lost forever if not digitized to be shared on-line. In addition to sharing with FH, he began a blog of his own, (HERE:) to spotlight his work.
All of the pieces I did prior to his death, were with his approval, and sometimes with support, and commentary from his model. Many of the posts I've done since, have been themed, with just a few focused on specific models. (Michael, Drew & Ben) Robert was supportive of my featuring those, and some other models, but at the same time, he always struggled with the model being the focus. Robert wanted the focus to be on the work, and process of how he created each image.
I know Robert liked many of the models he worked with, and became close friends with a few. At the same time, I'm not sure how much he really respected models in general. As an artist, he wasn't that concerned about how they felt as much as how they could move and create the poses he envisioned. As a sculpture, Robert went into his shoots, knowing exactly what the finished 'statue' should look like. His favorite models were the ones with patience, who could put up with his process, and handle holding uncomfortable poses for long periods of time.
Whether a model's 'eyes sparkled' or had a 'smile that could melt' was of little interest to Robert. He was most concerned about the structure of the image, and how his light reflected over the body or a specific pose. When the focus was on the model, it wasn't on the work, at least in Robert's eyes. Some of his models went on to be quite well known, as actors and as models. I remember how Robert struggled when Benjamin Godfre took off on-line and his images starting popping up on so many websites.
Although Robert certainly wanted credit for his work, that wasn't his main issue. He disliked how most of the commentary was about Ben's penis, or his butt, or 'how hot Ben looked'. Robert was annoyed that the skill, work, time and artistry was sidelined by a picture of a 'pretty penis'. I attempted to argue he should welcome the attention, and even worked with him on a book of Ben's images. I felt that capitalizing on the attention his images of Ben were getting, more eyes could be brought to his fully body of work. Robert agreed initially, but as the book came together, he ultimate changed his mind. He had other ideas for book he wanted my support with and the Ben book never saw the light of day.
Robert had experience publishing books that I didn't, so I followed his lead. His book Shadow Light did very well, and can still be found on e-bay on other on-line book sellers. Robert wanted his next books to be focused on themes and locations, and not specific models. He had dozens ideas, from his favorite locations, (the Ammo Factories) to his many couple shoots. One my favorite themes on his list was his water work.
If you seen much of Robert's work, you've seen images with the water. Models with a small cascade of water coming down directly above their heads. Although he shot the theme in color, most of the theme was shot in black and white. He often started with the models fully clothed, ensuring each item of clothing was fully drenched before he asked the model to slowly remove each piece. Some of my favorite images from the series feature models ripping off their white tank tops, or with bits of fabric and lace Robert threw at them during the shoot.
The process wasn't an easy one. Robert's studio was a small room above his flat in Minnesota. He did not use a shower or bathtub, but instead simply used a black backdrop, and put a plastic kiddy pool down in the center of studio. The he pulled in his outdoor hose and attached it to a pole he'd installed above the pool. He ensured he had a nozzle that would 'drip' the water, ensuring it didn't spray, but instead, came down in slow, well spaced droplets.
'The kiddy pool worked much better than the typical shoots of models in shower stalls. This way I isolate the figure in the blackness and the water is evident as silver spears darting off the body or cascading down and locked in shimmering movement. Direction is always to move in a circle so I can see how the water reacts and suggest playing with the water to get it to spritz... forever yelling (the water is loud) "Run your fingers through your hair!" Otherwise it looks like a melted candy bar!'
As you can see, despite the painstaking process, both before and after, the results speak for themselves. I remember Robert sharing stories about having to thaw out a frozen hose out for shoots in the winter, or negotiating with a neighbour who wanted to use the hose to water the garden. There was also the disassembly, using a juice container to empty the pool low enough to then drag into the bathtub to empty.
Of course, some of that water couldn't help but find it self on the floors. I'm guessing Robert's landlord wouldn't have been too thrilled, but according to Robert, his landlord never found out. He had one tenant once complain about his cats, but none seemed too bothered about the garden hose going up the side of the building and into one of the flats. My guess is they were more curious how the hose connected to the many different hot men regularly heading up to Robert's studio flat. Curious minds!
1 comment:
This set is extremely hot, wow.
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