August 1, 2003

GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE

11

evening'sout

Toledo Museum gallery shows photographer's work

by Kaizaad Kotwal

Columbus photographer and artist Rob Colgan has just had an artistic coup: his work was recently picked up by the Toledo Museum of Art to be sold through its gallery, with the prospect of being considered for the permanent collection. Colgan's work is both technically proficient and thematically intelligent and thought provoking. He sat down to chat with me about the feather in his cap. How did you get connected with the Toledo Museum of Art?

I was introduced to a man from the Toledo museum at the Jesus opening at Gallery V in Columbus. We spoke for about 30 minutes and he was asking me questions about the Jesus images, my thought process and techniques. I shared with him stories about the project that I felt helped to relay my cryptic ideology behind the Jesus photographs. He was very interested and complimentary of the images. He gave me a card and asked that I contact him after the show. The day after the show ended, he called me! He asked to see more images. He also inquired about any other work that I did, specifically the nudes. I sent him about 15 slides and the rest is as they say is history.

Talk a little about the new gallery concept there and how your work fits in with what they are trying to achieve.

The Toledo Museum Gallery is basically a store that sells original artwork. It is a little different from your normal run-of-the-mill museum stores in that it does not sell the usual trinkets--mouse pads, coffee mugs, postcards and other such items. It is strictly geared towards art, much like a regular gallery. It is in a separate location from the museum, but it does attract a considerable crowd.

The city of Toledo only has one other gallery that I know of, not much competition, so this sort of unusual establishment seems to work quite well for the city. The director of the gallery is trying to set a new standard with the store from the previous director by trying to push the envelope a little and exhibit works that are a little more provocative or challenging. And I think that my work fits that profile.

How many pieces of yours did they purchase in total and what kinds of work have they bought?

The Toledo Museum Gallery purchased 42 pieces in total, and it should be stressed that this is a purchase and not a consignment. They actually asked for this arrangement because they felt they wanted to have control of the artwork and not rely on the artist. The pieces purchased run the gamut from the Jesus Project to my multi-media constructions to regular silver gelatin prints. The images also seem to span the breadth of my subjects, from architectural to male nudes.

How does it feel to be recognized by the Toledo museum?

To be recognized by a major art institution like the Toledo is a wonderful feeling. They are a very old and established museum. They have a reputation that is well recognized across the state and nationally. This is a major step for my work and myself. You work all your life as an artist with the hopes that someday someone will recognize what you do, how you do it, why you do it and give a nod of acknowledgement to your efforts, to your talents. That's what helps to substantiate an artist and give them credibility. Of course, something like this is not an "endall" to one's career but it certainly helps validate everything up to that point and provides stimulus for future works.

What are your prospects of becoming a part of their permanent collection?

Since this gallery is staffed and run directly by the museum and not by any of the ancillary services like docents or a fundraising group, there is a stronger possibility of getting purchased for the museum's permanent collection, but I try not to let those thoughts obsess me. I'm just enthralled with the opportunity to show my work in a venue such as the Museum Gallery and continue to plug on towards my goal of connecting with

more of the public. Art is another form of communication, you know, especially photography.

Can you say a bit about how some of the more homoerotic works might fit within the general attitudes of collectors and art buffs in a relatively conservative area like Toledo?

The people that I've met from Toledo have been very wonderful, well versed in the arts and well educated in collecting. They seem to be a very passionate group and energized by the thoughts of new artists. I think that there is a tradition in Toledo for the arts as you would find in any of our older, more established and wealthier cities.

We in Columbus are at a bit of a deficit in understanding this because there is no legacy of arts endowments as you would see in other cities like Cleveland or Toledo. But then those cities are recognized worldwide for their collections. Those museums get their funding and direction from their citizens, so the museums tend to be a reflection of their cities in many ways.

Many of your works seem to deal with a sense of decay juxtaposed with youthful vitality and many also seem to work within a set of surrealist parameters. What draws you to these themes?

It seems as though I've always been drawn to old abandoned structures. They're a remnant of my past from living in Louisiana and, I guess in some aspect, they are vestiges of my childhood--of things that gave me feelings of peace and serenity. Old buildings are embodiments of history. Placing a nude in them is much like the innocence of youth. These structures have so much to tell, yet stand silently to allow the human to discover them on their own accord.

What qualities do you look for in your models and in your locales?

Models are always difficult to identify. I think that I can finally admit, after much harassment by colleagues and friends, that I probably prefer a younger looking model, not boys as some like to tease! I think that this type seems to fit that sort of naive innocence that I seek. The qualities I look for vary. Many times it depends on what I see in the model. To me, it's got to be more than just the face or body. I guess that I'm also drawn to the personality. I feel that the person's attitude is reflected in the final image, so I watch for how they present themselves. It's amazing how much first impressions remain true. And as far as locales, those seem to run the other extreme the older and more decayed, the better. It's that wonderful dichotomy that sets the model and the environment apart, yet they seem to work so well together.

When selling your pieces in Toledo you hooked up with a new model and some new locales. Talk a bit about the work you did there.

My reception in Toledo was phenomenal. They were very taken with the figurative pieces and after grilling me with questions, they inquired as to whether I had ever considered Toledo as a resource: The city is still relatively economically depressed and has many beautiful buildings that offer many photographic possibilities.

When I mentioned that it might be difficult to persuade a model to commit to that much time, they introduced me to a man who works at the Museum Gallery. Since he'd worked around art and artists, he had no problems with the thought and we set up a shoot on one of my return trips. Another resource that was offered was a friend of the gallery director who owned a fabulous old Victorian building in the city called the Pythian Castle. Needless to say, the shoot was wonderful and I'm planning a return to continue with these options.

Who are the photographers you admire?

Oh, God, not the "who are your role models?" question. I guess that I'd have to say that Duane Michals because of his work with symbolic narratives, Bruce Weber because of his timeless beauty in representing the male form in a relatively natural way, John Dugdale for his simplicity in form and presentation, and

Arthur Tress. for his wit and wry sense of cynical humor. But I've also been influenced by others including some painters like Thomas Eakins, Odd Nerdrum, George Tooker. Paul, Cadmus. And Caravaggio of course, because of his amazing use of lighting, and the list could go on and on.

If you could have any famous men to shoot, who would they be?

I don't think that I'm really interested in photographing anyone famous, except maybe Johnny Depp because of his amazing presence. I like people who are relatively blank slates and have little to no experience in front of the camera. They are the ones who seem to be the most natural.

Any advice to photographers who want

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Magi by Rob Colgan

to shoot nudes or erotic images?

Actually, my advice is simple look at the world, observe people, they are your greatest resource and a never-ending supply of situations, appearances and emotions. If you're shooting nudes-trust your instincts. If it doesn't look right, it's probably not right! And, of course, do some looking in the library. History provides us with a wealth of possibilities. Finally, don't be afraid to experiment you'll never succeed if you don't make the attempt.

Rob Colgan's photographs are carried at the Toledo Museum of Art store in Westgate Village Shopping Center, 3301 West Central Ave., Toledo; 419-535-5706.

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