Clic Gallery And Catherine Malandrino Present The Opening Of Christopher Makos 'Polaroids'

Photographer Christopher Makos. (Paul Solberg)

East Hampton - The Clic Gallery will present Christopher Makos "Polaroids" beginning August 3. There will be an opening reception held on Saturday, August 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Makos will be at the opening reception to sign copies of the accompanying photobook, "Christopher Makos Polaroids" (published by Photology), which features an introduction by Calvin Klein.

Makos was a seminal figure in the 1980s New York art scene, and his photographs have been published in Interview, Rolling Stone, Esquire and New York Magazine. He was a close friend and frequent collaborator of Andy Wahrol, and is the author of "Warhol/Makos In Context," "Andy In China," and the upcoming "Lady Warhol."

The Clic exhibit is a series of vintage 24 SX-70 Polaroids snapped by Makos in the late 1970s to the early 1980s. The beautiful, dreamy, colorful shots of friends and lovers, of interesting still lives, and even celebrities like Debbie Harry, John Kennedy, Jr. and Warhol himself are the perfect reminder of the recklessly happy spirit of the time.

In his introduction to the book, Klein writes "What I love about Christopher's Polaroids is that they're a potent relic of a very specific era - what a time of incredible energy and excess! People were out all night, Studio 54 was packed, New York was where it was all happening and going out was frenetic, exciting and very, very fun. In many ways, although this may seem like a contradiction, it was also a time of greater innocence, and that's what these pictures capture."

Makos took some time to answer a few questions:

Why this gallery in the Hamptons and at this time?
CM: These particular Polaroids really speak of a time, when there was no Facebook, no Twitter, so these were those Facebook/Ttwitter moments, and I felt this was the time, to bring the body of work to my collectors.

Also, if you know Christiane Celle, you will understand that working with someone that is so Fresh, so Vibrant, and really gets it - that's working with Clic. It's like a breath of fresh air, she is irresistible to work with.

How many years does this body of work represent?

CM: From 1975 to 1984 is when these Polaroids were taken, just at the height of when the Polaroid corporation was enjoying it zenith.

Anyone who you would like to have photographed, living or deceased?

CM: I have no yearning to photograph people that are unattainable, I don't really look backward, nor forward. I just see what's in front of me, and that usually satisfies me. Oh, come to think of it, maybe Audrey Hepburn and Tab Hunter in the 1950s.

What camera do you use other than a Poloroid and do you Photoshop any of the pieces before final print?

CM: I have a Nikon D-700 for my portraits, and a Canon G10 for my snapshots, and anyone who has a digital camera uses Photoshop. Because I shoot all my images in both Raw and Jpegs - there's always a need for Photoshop, mostly to get the most perfect image from the Raw files.

What's next for you?


CM: I have a new book coming out September 2010, called "Lady Warhol," which I'll be signing at the Clic Gallery in New York City on Tuesday, September 14, along with new artworks by the Hilton Brothers, Christopher Makos + Paul Solberg, our art collaboration will feature works called "AndyDandy," and then on October 7, I'm opening "Mistaken Identity" in Montevideo, Uruguay at the Subtle Museum.

The Clic Gallery is located at 23 Newtown Lane in East Hampton.

For more information on the exhibition go to www.clicgallery.com.

For more information on Christopher Makos go to www.makostudio.com.

For more information on the Hilton Brothers go to www.thehiltonbrothers.com.