Lewis BaltzLewis Baltz

By: Allison Miller

BiographyBiography

Born: September 12Born: September 12thth 1945 in Newport 1945 in Newport Beach, California.Beach, California.

Educated at: San Francisco Art Institute Educated at: San Francisco Art Institute and Claremont Graduate Schooland Claremont Graduate School

Work appears in: “New Topographic” an Work appears in: “New Topographic” an exhibition at the International Museum of exhibition at the International Museum of Photography in New York.Photography in New York.

Style: focused on counter-aesthetic of Style: focused on counter-aesthetic of photography which is looking for beauty in photography which is looking for beauty in destruction.destruction.

Biography ContinuedBiography Continued

Influences: Robert Irwin, Robert Smithson, Influences: Robert Irwin, Robert Smithson, Richard Serra, Carl Andre.Richard Serra, Carl Andre.

Interesting Facts: He wasn’t interested in Interesting Facts: He wasn’t interested in photography until much later in his photography until much later in his lifetime. lifetime.

Most of his pictures have a quality of Most of his pictures have a quality of despair.despair.

He recently became a professor for He recently became a professor for photography at the European Graduate photography at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland. School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland.

Anechoic ChamberAnechoic Chamber

Where: France Télécom LaboratoriesWhere: France Télécom Laboratories When: 1989When: 1989

QuestionsQuestions The light used is artificial, and is on the ground The light used is artificial, and is on the ground

pointing up.pointing up. The main subject is the device used to test for The main subject is the device used to test for

electromagnetic energy. I can tell because it’s in electromagnetic energy. I can tell because it’s in the center of the picture.the center of the picture.

The photo is striking because of the photographers The photo is striking because of the photographers use of lighting on the walls of the chamber.use of lighting on the walls of the chamber.

The photographer is most famous for taking The photographer is most famous for taking pictures of man made things (machines, buildings, pictures of man made things (machines, buildings, etc.) in a sad type of setting. He does this to etc.) in a sad type of setting. He does this to show a message of humans against nature.show a message of humans against nature.

I selected this photograph because I like the I selected this photograph because I like the lighting against the chamber walls.lighting against the chamber walls.

East WallEast Wall

Where: Tustin, CaliforniaWhere: Tustin, California When: 1974When: 1974

QuestionsQuestions The light used is natural, and is coming from The light used is natural, and is coming from

behind the camera.behind the camera. The main subject is the building, and I know this The main subject is the building, and I know this

because it’s in the middle of the photo.because it’s in the middle of the photo. The photo is striking because of the message that The photo is striking because of the message that

it’s sending, and the use of horizon.it’s sending, and the use of horizon. This picture is another that shows the message of This picture is another that shows the message of

man against nature. The fact that he chose to put man against nature. The fact that he chose to put it in black and white reflects that quality of it in black and white reflects that quality of despair most of his pictures have.despair most of his pictures have.

I chose this photograph because I like the message I chose this photograph because I like the message the photographer is displaying.the photographer is displaying.

North WallNorth Wall

Where: Irvine, CaliforniaWhere: Irvine, California When: 1984When: 1984

QuestionsQuestions The lighting in this photo is artificial, and is The lighting in this photo is artificial, and is

coming from the garage.coming from the garage. The main idea in this photo is the two open spaces The main idea in this photo is the two open spaces

in the room that is letting in all the light. I in the room that is letting in all the light. I can tell because they are the first thing that can tell because they are the first thing that caught my eye.caught my eye.

This photo is striking because of the lighting. This photo is striking because of the lighting. It’s dark, but the doorway and the windows draw It’s dark, but the doorway and the windows draw you in.you in.

This photo’s message is like most of his other This photo’s message is like most of his other works. It has a theme of isolation and the works. It has a theme of isolation and the reoccurring quality of despair.reoccurring quality of despair.

I chose this photograph because I like the I chose this photograph because I like the lighting.lighting.

Unoccupied OfficeUnoccupied Office

Where: Vitre, FranceWhere: Vitre, France When: 1989When: 1989

QuestionsQuestions The lighting in this room is both artificial and The lighting in this room is both artificial and

natural. It’s coming from the light outside the natural. It’s coming from the light outside the window, and the lights that are on in the room.window, and the lights that are on in the room.

The main subject is the office space set up in the The main subject is the office space set up in the corner. I can tell because it’s in the center.corner. I can tell because it’s in the center.

This photo is striking because of the window and This photo is striking because of the window and the light it’s bringing in.the light it’s bringing in.

The message in this photo is comparing and The message in this photo is comparing and contrasting the outside to the inside. The corner contrasting the outside to the inside. The corner where the desk is, is all dark, and the lighting where the desk is, is all dark, and the lighting from outside is what’s really brightening the from outside is what’s really brightening the room. He does that to show how much nicer the room. He does that to show how much nicer the outside is to the inside.outside is to the inside.

I choose this photo because I like the lighting.I choose this photo because I like the lighting.

UntitledUntitled

Where: Park City, UtahWhere: Park City, Utah When: 1978When: 1978

QuestionsQuestions The lighting is natural, and comes from behind the The lighting is natural, and comes from behind the

camera.camera. The point of interest in this photo is the houses, The point of interest in this photo is the houses,

and buildings. I can tell because it takes up most and buildings. I can tell because it takes up most of the picture.of the picture.

The photo is striking because of the message it The photo is striking because of the message it sends, but also because of the angle it was taken sends, but also because of the angle it was taken at. It looks like the photographer was standing on at. It looks like the photographer was standing on a hill overlooking it all.a hill overlooking it all.

The message in this photo is once again main The message in this photo is once again main versus nature. It’s showing how much man has taken versus nature. It’s showing how much man has taken over.over.

I choose this photo because I like the message.I choose this photo because I like the message.

CitationsCitations http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425990340/684/lewis-baltz-http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425990340/684/lewis-baltz-

north-wall-automated-marine-international-1641-mcgaw-irvnorth-wall-automated-marine-international-1641-mcgaw-irvine-new-industrial-parks-near-irvine-california-16.htmline-new-industrial-parks-near-irvine-california-16.html

http://www.artnet.com/auctions/Pages/Common/Lot/LotDetaihttp://www.artnet.com/auctions/Pages/Common/Lot/LotDetails.aspx?lotId=23884&page=1ls.aspx?lotId=23884&page=1

http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425663001/684/lewis-baltz-http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425663001/684/lewis-baltz-anechoic-chamber-france-telecom-laboratories.htmlanechoic-chamber-france-telecom-laboratories.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Baltzhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_Baltz http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425662999/684/lewis-baltz-http://www.artnet.com/artwork/425662999/684/lewis-baltz-

unoccupied-office-mitsubishi-vitre-fr.htmlunoccupied-office-mitsubishi-vitre-fr.html http://artgallery.yale.edu/pages/collection/http://artgallery.yale.edu/pages/collection/

exhibitions/images/pastex/ex_robert_adams.jpgexhibitions/images/pastex/ex_robert_adams.jpg