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Trusting the Voice in Your Head with Duane Michals

Profile Apr. 13, 2020
A photograph featuring a paper lantern sitting on a table surrounded by irises in vases. Light from an unseen window illuminates the items on the table. Text handwritten on the border of the image reads Spring sunshine, an old lantern, the first iris from my garden, a small happiness!
Duane Michals, Spring Sunshine, 2006; © Duane Michals.
A photograph featuring a paper fan sitting on a table surrounded by irises in vases. Yellow light from an a bulb under the table illuminates the items on the table. Text handwritten on the border of the image reads I'm Printemps, Primovera, Spring, The flowers sing a cappella. And I harmonize with my eyes. The photograph is dated May 15 2006
Duane Michals, I’m Printemps, Primavera, Spring, 2006; © Duane Michals.
A photograph depicting two shirtless men watching over a glass beaker. Left person holds a flower and the right person pours water into the beaker. Text handwritten on the boarder reads To celebrate the first day of sprint, one perfect amaryllis, in a glass of water. Look! Beauty!
Duane Michals, To Celebrate the First Day of Spring, 2006; © Duane Michals.
A photograph depicting an arrangement of flowers in a vase, dried flowers on the table top, and a banjo resting against the wall with a Japanese print in the background. Text handwritten on the boarder reads Play me a tun on an old broken banjo, The song mother sang long ago.
Duane Michals, Play Me a Tune on an Old Broken Banjo, 2006; © Duane Michals.
Trust that little voice in your head that says ‘Wouldn’t it be interesting if…’ And then do it.
Duane Michals

McKeesport-born photographer Duane Michals knows what he’s talking about when it comes to trying new things. The innovative ways that he combines sequences of photographs and text to examine his subjects has had enormous influence in the field of artistic photography.

Enjoy some of Michals’s 2006 works focused on spring flowers to start off your week with something bright.