Jim Reitz

Contemporary Black and White Still Life Photograph of a Wig Shop

2000s

Black and white contemporary photograph by Houston, TX artist Delilah Montoya. This conceptual photograph captures a young child with long, dark, curly hair, resembling that of Christ's, also wearing a white dress with a thick, patterned lining. The young subject also holds what appears to be a heart figure, also replicated as a graffiti on the wall. Signed and labeled at the back. Framed and matted in a black wooden frame. Dimensions Without Frame: H 23 in. x W 18 in. Artist Biography: Although she was born in Texas and lived in Nebraska into her twenties, photographer and printmaker Delilah Montoya has deep roots in northern New Mexico through her mother's family. Raised by her mother, Montoya observes that women have empowered her family for five generations. Montoya studied photography and printmaking at the University of New Mexico, where she received her bachelor's degree, master's degree, and master of fine arts. She works in a variety of two-dimensional photographic and printing processes as well as creating larger installations. The artist describes her approach as postmodernist and uses documentary strategies to interpret her own distinct vision. Politically, Montoya is committed to exploring issues of identity in terms of a Chicano cultural context:"In my own evolving ideology I question my identity as a Chicana in occupied America, and articulate the experience of the minority woman. I work to understand the depth of my spiritual, political, emotional and cultural icons, realizing that in exploring the topography of my conceptual homeland, Aztlan, I am searching for the configuration of my own vision. " (Montoya n.d.) Montoya is committed to the expression of Chicana experience and history, but she does not consider herself as a feminist. Indeed, Montoya rejects identification as a United States-style feminist because she believes that "Feminists don't give us solidarity. As a Chicana my issues are multifaceted, not just gender, but class, race. " The border, for Montoya, is a politically imposed construct, a part of a United States colonialist enterprise that was forced upon the Chicano community. It is the environment in which Chicano life and history unfolds. Montoya's work explores contemporary and historical issues, sometimes win a humorous twist. Her artist's book for the 1992 Chicano Codices exhibition organized by the Mexican Museum in San Francisco, Codex Delilah: a Journey From Mechica to Chicana (including text by poet Cecilio Garcia-Camarillo), traces the imaginary journey of Six Deer, a character who embodies the contact between indigenous and Spanish culture in her trip "pal norte" towards Aztlan, the "spiritual homeland of her ancestors." As she journeys to the north, the character also journeys forward in time, meeting important Chicanas from the past, including La Llorona...

Black and white contemporary photograph by Houston, TX artist, Bevin Bering. Photograph features the Harris Country Jail along San Jacinto St. in Downtown...

Photograph collage of Jenny Helzer and Barbara Kruger sitting in an Oshkosh car. The work is signed and titled by the artist Scott Griesbach who was known for photo collage works. It...

Black and white interior photograph developed using the Sabattier process. The photograph is not framed. Artist Biography: Pat Truax is a Texas based fine art photograph best known ...

Christina Creutz (Contemporary artist, 20th/21st century). "Beauty Shop" -2003, C-print. Hand signed lower right. Approx. 46.5" x 44" (frame), 36" x 36" (sight) Interior of barber...

Mom Getting her Hair Teased at Besame Beauty Salon North Massapequa, NY June 1979 Signed, titled, dated, and numbered, verso Gelatin silver print 20 x 16 inches (Edition of 5 + 2 ...

Luoping by Wu Jialin is a black and white photograph depicting the back of a person sitting in a chair, getting their hair done at a hair salon. Gelatin Silver Print 20 x 16 in. Ed....

High contrast photo by Peter Stackpole (American, 1913-1997). The photo shows a hot bar of metal on a large machine, about to be worked. The metal is g...