Esquire Magazine Russia Features Care of Ward 81. Click below to read the review (for those of you who do not read Russain please use Google translate cut and paste to read any of the comments.
Ironically, there are more Facebook likes (325) and comments in Russia then here in the united states. Perhaps my next conceptual fine-art book should be on something russian. 
Care of Ward 81 has been selected as the winner of the 2011 International Book Award in the Photography Category. This marks the fourth award recognizing Golden Section Publishers and Care of Ward 81 for excellence in independent book publishing.
I must admit I am completely surprised and overwhelmed by the amount of attention and recognition this project has received. I never expected these awards, and must admit I am quite surprised by the critical attention this book has received…However, the real satisfaction comes from knowing the struggles endured by the women of Ward 81 are not forgotten.
Care of Ward 81 has received the 2011 Eric Hoffer Independent Book Award in the Art Category. I am truly humbled by this award.
The Eric Hoffer Award was established as a means of honoring freethinking writers and independent books. It commemorates the memory of the great American philosopher Eric Hoffer by highlighting salient writing, as well as the independent spirt of small publishers. The mission statement of the Eric Hoffer award goes on explain that throughout the centuries, writers such as Emily Dickinson, James Joyce, Walt Whitman, and Virginia Wolfe have taken the path of self-publishing rather than have their ideas forced into a corporate or sociopolitical mold. Furthermore, many of the top literary prizes will not even consider independent books or previously unpublished prose, choosing instead to become the marketing arms of large presses.
Again, I would Like to thank each and every one of you who helped me see this project through: especially my family, my staff, and Golden Section Publishers.
Communication Arts has honored Care of Ward 81 as one of 2011′s best photographic publications. Now in its 52nd year, Communication Arts reviewed over 5,500 entries from around the world. Golden Section Publishers’ Care of Ward 81 was selected as one of years ten best books… featuring it in the Photography Annual.
I would be remiss if I did not thank my father for teaching me the perseverance it takes to see a project like Care of Ward 81 through. This award honors you.
Tonight I will be giving an artist lecture at Swann Galleries 104 east 25th & Park ave. to speak about his first monograph Care of Ward 81. This event also marks the release of the video trailer to give you some incite into what the project is about. Wine and hors-devours will be served. To all of you that have supported me and this project, I warmly thank each and every one of you.
I enjoy taking on challenging and sometimes controversial assignments. Deciding to shoot a meth lab installation in Marfa, Texas was no exception.
What most people wouldn’t know by looking at these photographs is that each room was tiny, with awkwardly-shaped and dimly-lit rooms. No lens could capture these images in one frame without distorting the environment, making this a challenging interior shoot. I created all the interior images of this 15 room meth lab by shooting several plates and had them assembled in post production by my retoucher and fellow artist Lars Kremer. “The project took me about 6 weeks to complete… it was a very tiring project with many double days and sleepless nights.” These images show the full scope of our creative and production capabilities… “in the end, I am very proud of these images and I love the overall esthetic of this book.”
This book was printed and distributed by D.A.P. in a first edition of 1000 and is completely sold out by the distributor. Unfortunately there will not be a second printing of ”Hello Meth Lab In The Sun.” So I have decided to make available my remaining 20 personally signed copies, they are available for $100.
Simply click on the paypal button below to secure your copy.
Finally, I would like to thank Justin Lowe and my longtime friend Jonah Freeman for trusting me with this project and allowing me to push my creative boundaries in creating these unique images…
Click here to view images from the book
