For almost 30 years, New York native and geologist Roger Ballen has lived in rural spaces outside Johannesburg, South Africa, photographing the citizens of these destitute townships. Consistently working in black and white, his prints maintain a sharp, surreal grittiness; a touching gravitas of the human condition in J-Burg.
His most recent series, New Project, omits faces, instead focusing on gingerly-splayed limbs, the photos often including tiny puppies or birds.
Ballen stops in Portland on Wednesday, May 7th and will be giving a lecture at the Weiden-Kennedy Atrium, where he's also kindly offered to autograph photos and books of past work.
Exclusive portraits and still-lifes from the mid-‘80s to today will also be on display and the lecture will be followed by a reception and New Project book signing, with food courtesy of Planet B.'s Modern Tastes.
rogerballen.com for more info.
Wieden-Kennedy Atrium, 224 NW 13th Ave., 242-1419. 7 pm. Free for members. $5 General public.
Sara's new ed note: This entire, original piece (which I penned and received image permission from Mr. Ballen for) can be found on Willamette Week's website and blog at :: wweek.com and wweek.com/wwire
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