Vee Hua 華婷婷Sometimes I’m a little bit wary about supporting the Kickstarter projects of various artists; all too often, people feel entitled to your money while giving little in return, and even less to the community at large. A new project by photographer Tyler Kohlhoff and Justin Gorman is fine by me, though; their Kickstarter effort offers prints, clothing, and publications which seem like an even trade for a few extra bucks… but more importantly, their project has a foreseeable benefit for the greater good.
Kohlhoff and Gorman’s upcoming collaboration, Exhibit B: Lines Of Work, celebrates the joys of real, honest work, by focusing on all aspects of an average workday. Those of you who have been the SE industrial district have probably seen Rinella Produce‘s distinctive building. If you’ve ever wondered what happens there on a day-to-day basis, the first of these case studies will use photo essays and videos to capture the processes and behind-the-scenes functions of running a business such as Rinella’s.
The duo describes the piece on Rinella Produce and the ones to follow, saying:
Exhibit B features a number of case studies, the first of which is Rinella Produce, a venerable, family run produce distribution company located in South East Portland. Our focus with this study was on the owner David Rinella, and the pride he takes in employing 65 people in an age where his work is increasingly disappearing. The photo stories and video provide an honest look into the worker and the processes surrounding that work. The project will be rounded out by case studies including the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and with their road crews, Columbia River Boat Pilots and a day in the life of a butcher.
Profits from the Kickstarter will go towards print costs, large-format exhibition photographs, and the exhibit installation, to take place at Wieden + Kennedy (24 NW 13th Avenue, Portland, OR) on June 2nd, 2011. The duo says, “We will be making a run of 2000, 12 page, magazine size publications featuring photo essays, typography, info-graphics and a guest essay by artist and writer Victor Moldanado. The publication will be take-aways at the exhibition.”
Kohlhoff and Gorman have already met their $2,000 goal, but if you would like to donate to the Kickstarter, it ends on May 14th, at 2:59am.
Navi Esparza