“Repent”, by Josh Steichmann

Former Cousins Vinyl writer and Current magazine music beat writer, and fellow Ann Arbor homeboy Josh Steichmann, now living in Los Angeles, is having a having a photography exhibit opening this Saturday from 5:00-7:00 at the Riverside Arts Center, located on Huron street in Ypsilanti. I went to high school with Josh, but I became a fan of his writing while he worked for Current about 8-10 years ago, grabbing up the free copy every month mostly to read his column. Josh helped us start this website, and his vision for it sort of pushed everything forward and helped shape what it is today. Josh and I still keep in touch, even though he split for LA a few years ago, so I was excited to hear that he was going to be in town for the exhibit of his collaboration with his mother, Lisa Stechmann.

via front page of Riverside Arts Center website:

February 4-27: Interrupted Landscapes, an exhibit of digital and silverprint photography. The exhibit features solo and collaborative work by Michigan-based artist Lisa Steichmann and Los Angeles writer/photographer Josh Steichmann. Their collaborative work grew out of a text by Josh, How to Tread Water, set to images by Lisa. Lisa’s other work for this show is both new and a retrospective of her fragmentary landscapes from the U.S. and Italy and in digital and traditional-process prints. Josh’s work for the show features his vision of the landscape of Southern California, which reflect the alienation and anomie of the everyday in SoCal. Opening reception Saturday, February 6, 5:00-7:00 PM.

I called Josh last night, but it was a bit late and I didn’t get to ask him too much about it. I took some notes, but all I can make of it now is “L.A freeway, salvation Montana, slab city California, weird religious, experimental shots”. I trust Josh as an artist, though, and I am going to try to make it there on Saturday to show my support and get some more info on the project.