DC Shot List's Hot Shot Spotlight on Claire Bouleau

Article and photos by Betsy Spruill Clarke.

If you still haven't been to Claire Bouleau's Photo Graffiti exhibit at Zone Zero Gallery...why?  What are you doing?  Considering that it ends on April 30th, you should probably get crackin'.  That is, if you want to see some really beautiful works of color and moment infusions.

At first, I thought--considering the photo used to market the show--that these were going to be compilations of urban artwork images.  Of course, I was wrong.

While the exhibit is appropriately called "Photo Graffiti," it isn't about spray-paint street murals.  Graffiti, at least by my definition, is artwork--most commonly with a paint-source medium--that permanently changes the appearance of a landscape--often an urban structure.  In this particular case, Claire Bouleau combines camera, light, color, frame, and timing to permanently change the way the viewer would typically see the landscape or setting that she has captured.

The following is the DC Shot List interview with Claire Bouleau...

DCSL:  What was your inspiration behind Photo Graffiti?  How did the concept come into focus for you?
CB:  Some do photography in-studio, or settings that are well prepared and defined.. I  consider myself more of a spontaneous, visual poet, combining reality with imagination. I love to explore the unexpected in the mundane, find beauty where one would not expect it. My camera is my eye, is my mood in the moment. It is both intimate and fragile. Just like with actual Graffiti, I use my camera in open public space, and my response to particular places forms color compositions--photo paintings of emotions--distinguishing my personal world.

DCSL: How would you describe your niche?
CB: Are you talking about my photo work?  If so.. I would not necessarily describe it as a niche. It's more a way of seeing the world in a painterly way. Mood Impressions. I enjoy the ability of playing with some emotional landscape, being surprised, capturing the rumors of colors, situations, shapes, sometimes in a semi-abstract way. I rather prefer to suggest, leave room for imagination and guessing.

DCSL: How did you get involved with Zone Zero?
CB:  Zone Zero was created by two French photographers, Pascaline Steiner, and Jean-Louis Atlan.  More than a gallery, it is a place with a real sense of home for photography.  I like the they treat photography. Its' beautiful, sober, and homey which is a very complex combination. In that way, Zone Zero is a very unique place. I knew Jean-Louis before. He has been following my work for some time , and encouraging me. He belongs to this rare breed of photographers who like [other photographers'] work. Not only that, but he has a keen, inquisitive and generous eye. In a way, I could tell that Jean-Louis Atlan is my mentor. He has been incredibly supportive with a wonderful patience and attention to details.

Claire and owners/creators of Zone Zero gallery, Jean-Louis Atlan and Pascaline Steiner

DCSL: What drew you to DC and how long have you lived here?
CB: I moved from Paris to DC in 1993. Initially to be for just a year, I was willing to experiment life in another settings, with a new language, as a freelancer. I then became a radio and TV producer for the French media. Obviously, I decided to stay here. I enjoy DC more and more everyday, although, I love Paris--my  home city--whose beauty can move me to tears (especially at night).

DCSL: Do you do photography strictly on an art level or are there other areas where you apply it?
CB: I also do photos of artists' sculptures. For instance, I recently worked on Dalya Luttwak's show at the Katzen Center in Washington: Hidden Roots. She does stunning large scale roots. We really had a wonderful collaboration on this project. And the catalogue is great!

DCSL: Claire, your blog says you are also a journalist....do you freelance or work for a specific company?
CB: I am a freelancer. I used to work for the French National Public Radio, France Inter, using words instead of images. Then I switched on to documentaries for French TV productions.

DCSL: Can you give us a shot of future art project plans?
CB: My next photo project is about DC and it's hidden beauty.

DCSL: 

Looking forward to it, Claire!  Thanks for the chat.

Imagery from the Tossed & Found Preview Night Party

On Friday night, a party at Crystal City Shops kicked off the Junior League of Washington's 17th Annual Tossed & Found sale.  Now, if you have never had the pleasure of going to this weekend-long event, let me give you a taste of what you miss...

First off, this isn't your average, run-of-the-mill rummage sale.  For months, the volunteers sort and weed through all of the donations and decipher if the items are good enough to be sold (think creme de la consignment vs. too-trashy-to-be thrift).  The items that do not make the cut are donated to another source that can use them.  The goods that do make the cut are a total bargain for even the most discriminating shopper, whether they get a jump on the deals on Friday night or are still browsing by Sunday.

Opening the weekend is the Preview Night Party, complete with DJ, catering, open bar, a fashion show, silent and live auctions, and more.  There is a cover charge and everything is twice the price, but the value of getting a head start on some of the finest in gently-used goods makes any purchase, of the evening, a total steal.

Of course, I did what I was there to do and snapped shots of the event, making sure to catch my friends Allison Priebe Brooks http://www.QueenBeeDesigns.comand Suzanne Day Seidman http://www.LocalKicks.com and Makeda Saggau-Sackey in their fashion show sequel to their appearance on Fox 5.

Check out the raspberry beret...------>

After taking photos of the action, I brought along a little toy to play with...my Lensbaby 2.0!  I find that whenever I go second-hand shopping, I tend to fall in love with texture and color, more than the actual items.  So, I thought I would use the Lensbaby to profile what caught my eye and drew me in.  Enjoy.

<--In the textiles section, there was a multitude of options, speaking to just about any style.

Just about anything and everything imaginable could be found in kitchen accessories...I still have yet to figure out why this is was there----->

 <----A cast iron frame and picture that says "la moderne" flanks a black vase with bright green concave ovals.

If you are a committed bargain hunter or second-hand shopper, you will know that the early bird gets the absolute best deals on furniture.  But in this furniture section, there were still some great steals left for the weekend warriors.  Black leather chairs and ottomans, classic antique furniture that only needed to be refinished or re-upholstered and sexy, unique light fixtures.----> 

Ladies accessories had many different shiny, fun things that I could not stay away from.  In the photo below, on the right, is a hat I wanted to rock but the registers were already closed.

It was gone the next day by the time I went back.  It looked to be hand-crocheted and would have definitely fit in with my wardrobe...a sea of black and black.

<---Who cares who makes it?  Who cares if I need it?  Who even cares if the one next to it has more options or staying power?  It's a delicious "mix" of avocado, stainless steel, and retro tastiness.  I must have it for the kitchen!!!

So, what becomes of everything on Sunday?  The Junior League notifies all of the charities in DC to bring a truck and load up.  Plus, for around $25 or $30, the Sunday shoppers are given a very, very large bag and they can load it up with whatever they can fit in there, with exception of appliances, furniture and a few other areas.  However, if you are a fiber artist a designer on the prowl for upholstery fabric, or just looking for new textiles to destruct and re-use, this is the time to do it.