Family Trees, a photo from District of Columbia, South

Photographer's Note

Family Trees

The exhibition, Family Trees, by Emily Brzezinski is on display at the American University Museum Katzen Arts Center in Washington, D. C. through June 6th. These free standing wooden sculptures with black and white photographs of her family members applied to their surfaces were created by Emily Brzezinski. The artist says they are an affirmation of her cultural identity and the need for self-definition within her family.

Emilie Brzezinski, born in Geneva, Switzerland in 1932 is an American sculptor. Shortly after graduating from Wellesley College, Emilie Benes, a grandniece of Czechoslovakia's former president Edvard Beneš, married Zbigniew Brzezinski, a political scientist who served as an adviser to President Jimmy Carter. She began her career in the 1970s with a series of solo shows in Washington, DC, and in New York.

Emilie Brzezinski worked in a variety of media, including resin, wood fiber, and wood. Her expressive themes always related to nature. Eventually she focused entirely on wood she found at mills, gardens, and development sites. She used chain saws, chisels and axes hollow out the logs for her sculptures.

Mika Brzezinski, Emilie's daughter and the co-host of MSNBC's Morning Joe, completed her memoir, "All Things at Once" coinciding with the completion of her mother's Family Trees sculptures. An expression of her life and love for her family, Family Trees closely mirrors the narrative of Mika's book, and both book and sculptures are testimonials to their identities as artists, wives and mothers.

Debbie, this picture is for you. Thank you for letting me know the exhibition is in D.C. I like the Katzen Arts Center and will visit it again.

windosil, belido, subhendu_bagchi, Atousa, paololg, serp2000, kordinator ha puntuado esta nota como útil.

Critiques | Translate

aristo (3214) 2010-05-18 22:04

Hello Betty!
Excellent and funny composition.Great photo,compliments,
TFS
Arek

CLODO (45116) 2010-05-19 0:36

Hi Betty
Good idea to catch a living person amongst the photographs included in the trees, with an escalating effect from left to right.
Cheers
CLODO

windosil (1158) 2010-05-19 3:48

Lovely photo, Betty, of a stunning work of art. Seeing partly through door could represent a glimpse into the future ...
Thanks,
Winifred

mafegan (8626) 2010-05-19 4:38

Hello Betty
A creative photo with the girl in purple completing the scene. She seems more concerned with texting than her cultural surroundings. Well managed lighting and a balanced composition. Tfs, Marlene

macjake (98262) 2010-05-19 4:48

Hi Betty
great capture here, quick thinking to snap one off.
very funny, i bet the lady has no idea how she appears standing beside the others!
have yourself a great day
cheers
craig

Greg1949 (9011) 2010-05-19 6:57

Betty,

Been a while, glad you are back with such an interesting subject, nice work.

Greg

belido (19934) 2010-05-19 14:29

Hi Betty,

this is very graphical and a lot interesting, even more reading the note. I can understand why the artist related the trees with the family. Good idea to include the passing girl. Well done!
Regards,
Carlos

batalay (41261) 2010-05-19 14:40

Hello Bulent,

This is a surpassing shot, with the young woman becoming part of the stage set — moreover, the dog, the child, the man and the woman all arranged in ascending order of height. The purple/blue outfit she is wearing adds a strong and artistic highlight. In late January I met a descendent of Edvard Beneš, the former president Czechoslovakia. This is an excellent example of a well timed, well composed photographic art.

Warm regards,

Bulent

subhendu_bagchi (26091) 2010-05-21 4:36

Namaste Betty,
an interesting capture of this nice artistic sculptures. Addition of the lady is nice it is contrasting and providing life to it. Nice colours and sharpness. Depth is superb also. An excellent composition. Tfs.
Best wishes.
Subhendu

fabianoleite (13575) 2010-05-21 8:46

Great pun, full of humor. Esthetically speaking, the woman was perfectly placed with the photos of people. Lots of creativity, congratulations!

Atousa (7131) 2010-05-22 1:21

Salam Betty,

This is a very well composed shot with the good choice of vertical framing to show some of the art works n the lady very well placed in it.. really an interesting shot.. we have family trees too although not like these artworks, they are some tree diagrams telling about the family members of a person through the ages.
Tfs
Best regards, Atousa

Tuhinkanti (60) 2010-05-22 3:54

very good composition .

Tuhin

Ricx (13495) 2010-05-31 15:34

Hi Betty, What a creative and wonderful family tree. I like the balance between art and real life, espcially as the young modern girl has her cell phone out and is smsing.. Great colour tones and an excellent TE image . Have a great day Rich

paololg (31448) 2010-06-01 14:27

Ciao dear Betty,
excellent and pleasant composition, enriched by the beautiful girl that however looks at the mobil and not these interesting works of art. Very interesting the notes that accompany this interesting photo. Compliments!
Ciao, have a nice day!
Paolo

serp2000 (47063) 2010-06-06 20:08

Hello, Betty,
Very interesting note about Brzezinski and excellent composition! Good idea! I like a realisation. Fine low POV, good colours and sharpness.
Have a good week!
Serghei

alvaraalto (42804) 2010-06-07 11:38

Hi Betty,

I wish I was there to make this picture.
Just the right moment to take the picture. A great combination between humour and artistic observation.

Groet Rob

quillo (11858) 2010-07-13 10:54

♥

Hola Betty ~~~~~~~~>

A very nice snapshot, the framing with the photos
in the trunks and the woman distracted
with his phone ..... a wise move,
I like.

Saludos y feliz día.

♥

pajaran (114867) 2010-07-24 22:32

Pozdrav.
Kod nas je posle nevremena od juce sada hladno 16. C stepeni i oblacno jutro.
Vrlo interesantan motiv i odlican tekst ...
Vrlo interesantan i originalan nacin izrazavanja umetnika.
Uradili ste dobar rad i lepu fotografiju.
Imajte lep dan i vreme, srecno za vikend, Paja.

Google.

Hello.
With us after the storm of yesterday, now cool 16th C degrees and cloudy morning.
Very interesting theme and excellent text ...
Very interesting and original way of expression of artists.
You've done good work and nice photo.
Keep a nice day and time, happy for the weekend, Paja.

Urs (14082) 2010-07-25 0:32

Hi Betty

Interesting exhibition well described in your note. Also your photograph gives a good idea what you saw. Good that you included this women, that adds live and perspective. Good photo job. Thanks for your critique of my monsoon clouds.

Best regards
Urs

kordinator (8738) 2010-08-10 1:23

Hello, Betty
Very interesting note about Brzezinski and excellent composition.
Great idea perfect realised.
Fine POV.
Excellent colours and sharpness.
Nice contrast.
Perfect job.
Regards from Serbia.
Saša

danyy (0) 2010-08-11 23:36

Photo originale Betty,
mêlant l'art moderne avec tous les symbôles qu'il représente. Un astucieux mélande de couleurs et de noir et blanc, dans un ensemble bien cadré.
Regards.
daniel.

AKITA (15125) 2010-08-13 0:03

dear Betty,
a beautiful shot of picture in picture,
if all are in the last picture,
you are the last magician of photographer,
anyway, nice objects and cute girl are lined to make timeless perspective here,
her strange posture in violet dress and back orange cloth are making something mysterious air in this museum,
thank you for your excellent shot,
Akihisa

sacavem (18620) 2010-10-18 7:29

Olá Betty,

Fantastic snapshot.What portrait "Family Trees" good close up... I like a lot. Beautiful light and colours. Very good job...

Cumprimentos,
Filipe

jaywalker (16105) 2011-01-13 9:58

Hi Betty, A great capture with the girl beautifully positioned, excellent composition & a superb eye, kind regards Wilson.