Curious Surfaces

The stories told in the marks we leave behind

The patina is the subject. From the cast iron ownership plaque that's long outlasted the owner to the gas tank repainted several times in radically different colors, the nitty gritty details of surfaces reveal a history, a narrative tale of intentions, directives, hopes and frustrations.

Curious Surfaces presents an unblinking photojournalism of damage, decay, repair and refurbishing. Each distressed surface becomes a kind of found sculptural frieze about the motives and desires of the people who left their marks on it, and their stories recorded in it, across the decades.

Eighty pages, 9.5" x 8", on premium luster-finish paper, glossy softcover. Limited edition, signed and numbered, with a bonus print.

:: New Processes

For this project, Kirk achieved very sharp detail across the picture plane, even into the corners of the images. The first step was to photograph with lenses built for full-frame camera sensors on an APS-C camera back. This allowed Kirk to use only the sharpest part of already top-quality lenses.

The second innovation was a series of post-processing steps that combined form a "personal emulsion." Correctly applied, these steps bring out the inherent detail of these fascinating surfaces, and help tell the stories recorded there.

:: Where to Buy Curious Surfaces

You can get Curious Surfaces at Heartwood, Southwest Virginia's Artisan Gateway in Abingdon, VA, and at the O. Winston Link Museum in Roanoke, VA. Or order it directly from me.

:: See Photographs in the Series

You may browse a selection of photographs from Curious Surfaces here.

Page through the entire book at Blurb: Full Book Preview.

Signs of Dysfunction

Blank, redacted, broken, rusted, misspelled - dysfunctional signs prominently declare nothing, proclaim nonsense, or subvert the sign-maker's purpose. Only by zeroing in on signs without ostensible meanings can we really see their underlying messages, information our subconscious minds have always gathered beneath our notice.

Eighty pages, approx. 8" x 10", hardcover with dust jacket.

Page through the entire book at Blurb: Full Book Preview.

See some larger images from the book: 'Signs' Portfolio

Read what Tom Angleberger had to say: Roanoke Times Review

Amy Matzke-Fawcett wrote about the book and show in the NRV Current magazine.

:: Where to Buy Signs of Dysfunction

The book is available in Southwest Virginia at Heartwood, Southwest Virginia's Artisan Gateway in Abingdon, and at the O. Winston Link Museum in Roanoke, VA.

You can order it in both printed and eBook formats from Blurb.com.

Or order a signed copy directly from me.