In his new blog, St. Paul-based photographer Alec Soth relays a series of weird coincidences–and, like that six degrees of Kevin Bacon thing–they involve the Walker.Ten years ago, walking along the banks of the Mississippi shooting photos for his Sleeping by the Mississippi series, Soth came upon a man painting with an easel. Writes Soth:
He told me that he lived on a houseboat on the river. He said it was a cheap way for an artist to live. It seemed so romantic. I was terribly jealous. I told my girlfriend I wanted to live on a houseboat. She said no.
The story may have inspired this photo, but it turns out the painter was none other than Rob Fischer, who was part of a Walker three-person show in 1998, and whose work–a glass-roofed boat sculpture–looks a lot like this shot by Soth (both works are in the Walker collection).
But that’s not the coincidence part: when the pair bumped into each other at a party recently, both men had the identical happy announcement, which he represents with a photo:
Rob is holding his baby girl. She was born on August 9th. Her name is August.
My baby boy was born on August 4th. His name is also August.”
Congratulations to Rob, Alec, Augusts, and their families.
Also: Are there other examples of artists blogging you know of–and I mean context-providing blogging not overt art-hawking blogs? If so, let us know.
Images: Alec Soth’s St. Genevieve, MO (2002), top, and Rob Fischer and Co.
And note that I wore a Walker ‘Closed Mondays’ hat to the softball party:
http://alecsoth.com/blog/2006/09/10/a-boy-can-dream/
Comment by Alec — September 12, 2006 @ 2:24 pm
You don’t happen to know Kevin Bacon, do you?
Comment by Paul — September 13, 2006 @ 9:24 am
BTW, the baseball card series reminds me of the art of the late Don Celender’s Artball cards. Know ‘em?
Comment by Paul — September 13, 2006 @ 9:25 am