A Summer Morning In Italy

 

Paul is currently wrapping up his week of teaching in Italy for the Tuscany Photo Workshops.  This is actually his third working trip to Italy this year, and he has been thoroughly enjoying working in his "other favorite country."  

 

The above image is actually from an earlier trip this year, and is part of a new body of work that the Mia Francesca restaurant chain is purchasing for their collection.

 

None of us can believe that tomorrow is August already!!!  Looking at our schedule for the next few weeks, it seems like September will be here in no time at all.  Enjoy what's left of the summer - we're sure going to make the most of ours! 

  Photo by Michael McGrath

 

Paul and James just returned from shooting an ad campaign in Rwanda!  It was an incredible trip, and they were both totally amazed by Rwanda and it's people.  It is a breathtakingly beautiful country and despite the lack of of ATMs it was great to work there.  Several of the locals that they worked with help run the fairly young Rwanda Film Festival (celebrating it's 5th anniversary this year), and it was really inspiring to hear about the advancement of the visual arts in this rapidly developing country.  If you ever have a chance to visit Rwanda, we highly recommend that you go for it.

  Paul making friends in Rwanda

48 hours after returning to Chicago, Paul was back in the International Terminal of O'Hare on his way to Italy to teach at the Tuscany Photo Workshops.  The workshops are a great opportunity to learn from some amazing photographers in a terrific setting, and Paul has been honored to teach there for a number of years now.  Some people might not enjoy bouncing between time zones so often, but Paul loves being on the move and never passes up an opportunity to visit Italy!

Finally, we wanted to thank everyone who came out to celebrate Leasha's opening at Catherine Edelman Gallery - it was a great time, and we enjoyed getting to catch up with all of you who took the time to drop by and say hello.  For those of you who couldn't make it, Leasha's pictures will be up in the gallery for another month, so drop in and check them out!  

  iPhone image from S.F. - July 2009

 

"Timing is everything," as the old saying goes, and this maxim definitely holds true for travel.  This summer (before August 23) is the perfect time to travel to San Francisco.  Not only is the weather incredibly temperate right now (sunny with highs in the mid-60's to low-70's), but there are two amazing photo exhibits on display at the SFMOMA.

 

From now until August 23, Robert Frank's The Americans celebrates the 50th anniversary of the publication of Frank's seminal book by displaying prints of all 83 images in the order established by the book.  Super cool.

 

And Richard Avedon: Photographs 1946-2004 will be on display until November 29.  All of you who have hung out with Team Elledge know that we are all huge fans of his work.  If you see his portrait of Bob Dylan in Central Park from 1965 in person, it will change your life.  And his self-portrait from 1980 is iconic in it's own right.

 

Don't miss out on an unbelievable opportunity to see TWO incredible shows in one location.  If you do go, Paul highly recommends that you take a few moments to stop and enjoy a New Orleans iced coffee in the SFMOMA's new rooftop sculpture garden - they are incredible!  

  "Conflict" ©Leasha Overturf

 

Our friends over at Catherine Edelman Gallery have an ongoing online artist series entitled The Chicago Project and this Friday, July 10th, they will be holding a reception with the artists for a print exhibition of selections from their online gallery.

 

Leasha, (our ever-on-top-of-things producer) has been chosen as a member of the Chicago Project, and will have two new prints hanging at Edelman Gallery from July 10th - September 4th!  Mark your calendars and make your plans to drop by the Edelman Gallery Friday night - we'd love to see you there!

 

 Catherine Edelman Gallery

300 W. Superior St.

Reception: Friday, July 10th, 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. 

  Leasha and Valentino Rossi

 

In case you missed it, we wanted to let you know that Valentino Rossi won his 100th Grand Prix race this past weekend at Assen!  Although Rossi already holds a mind-boggling amount of records across the board in motorcycle racing (such as being the only rider to win World Championship titles in five different classes), 100 victories is one of his most impressive landmarks.  It makes him only the second rider to win 100 Grand Prix races, behind Giacomo Agostini (who won 122).

 

This Sunday, Paul and Leasha will be attending the Laguna Seca Moto GP in California.  They will have a chance to watch Rossi possibly rack up his 101st Grand Prix win (although the competition from Jorge Lorenzo and Casey Stoner should make it a difficult race!).  Any one of those riders could walk away with the top podium spot, and while Paul will be rooting for his beloved Team Ducati, Leasha will be screaming her lungs out for Rossi (who rides for Team Yamaha).  The rivalries are fierce, and the loyalties run deep, but at the end of the day it's just exciting to watch the top riders in the world compete.  If you have never seen a GP race before, you should definitely check it out!