From the Editor: VOL. 2, NO.3 • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2002

It is hard to ignore the aftermath of the World Trade Center, even in a fine art magazine. Without instruction to do so, all of our regular columnists, Eve Ogden Schaub, Robert Hirsch, Greg Erf, and Randall Lamb, have turned in commentaries touching on the tragedy.

It has been said that we as artists should try to find, and create, visions of beauty to provide inspiration and hope. To give people a reason to believe in the innate goodness of humanity. I believe that Ansel Adams said it best in the following statement:

“I believe the function of the artist in all media is a creation of affirmations; the search for and the realization of beauty. The function of art includes an establishment of communication, at the imaginative and constructive level, and placing the emphasis of thought and emotion in relationship to an ideal world. The glorification of decay, filth, disease, despair, and evil succeeds only in blunting our necessary awareness of these negative qualities…I believe the artist can accomplish most on the agenda for survival by creating beauty, by setting examples of beauty in order, by embracing the concept of the essential dignity of the human mind and spirit.”

In this issue we present the work of Saïd Nusbieh, a Muslim photographer, who deftly records the beauty and richness of his culture. His father a displaced Palestinian architect, Saïd was raised in the U.S. by a Quaker family. He has returned often to the Middle East to explore his roots and help build understanding of his people and culture. By virtue of his diverse heritage, he works creatively both within and without both cultural environments.

Saïd’s portfolio was originally scheduled to appear in the November/December 2001 issue. Unfortunately, he missed the deadline of September 1 and his work was moved to this issue, prior to September 11. We are pleased to present it now, as we feel the need for bridges of understanding more than ever.

We are also pleased to have the work of Arnold Newman, the premier portrait photographer living today. Mr. Newman has been dubbed the “father of environmental portraiture,” a title that clearly makes him uncomfortable. However, if the shoe fits…

Finally, we have the work of Kendall Nelson. An alumni of Brooks Institute of Photography, Ms. Nelson has spent the last three years photographing the disappearing cowboy culture (Gathering Remnants: A Tribute to the Working Cowboy, Reviewed Nov./Dec. 2001). Her main photographic interests are documenting vanishing cultures. She is currently working on a photo documentary of Mongolian horsemen. Her work has been featured online by National Geographic.

Steve Anchell
Editor
Email: pvedit@ctelco.net