NYAB Event - "Film Por Vida: A Print Exchange Program" Exhibition

"Film Por Vida: A Print Exchange Program" Exhibition

Fuse Gallery

This event has ended.

The definition of exchange is: “The act of giving and taking, one thing in return for another.” Film Por Vida is an
international exchange of photographic prints done entirely through the mail. After four years of operating the exchange,
artist Jai Tanju began to upload all of the mail he received on a blog dedicated to the project. Images were posted, showing
both image side and address side. With the added traffic to the site Jai saw an instant jump in the amount of mail he was
receiving- something he hoped for but never expected. Also, much to his surprise, all the members started to exchange
images amongst themselves!

The Print Exchange was started as one man’s desire to share his photographs with his friends. Based on Jai’s foundation,
the program is now fueled by the contributions of others- all believing in the importance of art with a mutual understanding
of what it means to be a community of artists. Curator Angela Boatwright and Film Por Vida take pride in promoting artists
that take initiative and who foster a sense of involvement, and care for their community.

Film Por Vida: A Print Exchange Program will exhibit the collection of photographs Jai Tanju received though the mail
during that 4 year period from hundreds of photographers artists and film lovers. They will be presented in plastic slips and
attached to the wall via string so that the viewer can turn the image over to see both sides at his or her leisure. Also on
display will be 15 individually framed images by a select group of major Film Por Vida contributors.

Jai Tanju started taking pictures with a camera his grandfather gave him. He began his career in downtown San Jose taking
pictures of with his friends, professional skateboarders Jason Adams and Tim Brach. Jai’s photographs have been published
in magazines such as Slap, Thrasher, Transworld, Heckler. and Skateboarder. He also shot photographs of Horiyoshi III for
two books, Bushido: Legacies of Japanese Tattoo and Tattoos of the Floating Worlds. After some time, he burnt out and
took time off to figure out how to do what he loved on his own terms. Jai moved to Maui for eight months where he worked
digging ditches and living in a tent in his brother’s yard. Digging ditches gave him lots of time to think. He had a new
approach to life and his photography. He decided not to search things and people out, but to take pictures of everything that
happened, naturally and spontaneously. Soon thereafter, his friend Marc gave him a camera, and three years, 70 rolls of film
and lots of work later, Jai self published a book of his black and white photography titled With a Camera from Marc. Jai has
since published five more books, Just Keep Going, Emulsion Stew, Bad Land, Mute #1 and Mute #2.

Curated by Angela Boatwright

Media

• Photography

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