Providence

San Francisco Provident Loan Association

San Francisco: day 18
Before leaving my place, I sketched a quick map of the Mission, from 3rd Street to 5th. Another dull rainy day, perfect for the photo exhibits I've wanted to visit for a week.

First, the Plastic Camera Show at RayKo Center*--an exhibit of photographs taken with Holgas, Dianas and various toy cameras. Stunning images, all eerie and indistinct, and developed using giclee and gelatin techniques. I spent hours. Apparently, the downloadable Hipstamatic for iPhone can achieve these effects--dreamy light-leaks and plastic-lens distortions--but that sounds totally unsatisfying. Call me a relic, but I'm suddenly in love with the Holga and now I must load, handle, and shoot with one.

Second, to Intersection 5M, housed in the old SF Chronicle Building at Mission & 5th. The Hasan Elahi solo show from his "Tracking Transience" project. Incredible concept. For the past 7 years, Elahi has uploaded his entire life to the web. He started after being falsely accused in the 9/11 terrorist plot and undergoing a brutal FBI investigation. The stream of images are a continual update of purchases he's made, places visited, meals eaten, bank statements--you name it. The shots of toilets and urinals is amusing. It's a kind of up yours and constant alibi. Fairly dull exhibit in the end--basically images from his website screened in a darkened room. Check it out on-line and you'll get the idea.

*Gorgeous old warehouse tucked underneath the Bayshore Freeway.


Back blips:
>Day 17: Fishgirl in love
>Day 16: Palo Alto's weird public art