A small rowboat floats on still, mirror-like water reflecting dense green foliage and cloudy sky. Inside the boat, three children in casual clothing recline among wooden oars and a black tire, arranged in a languid, contemplative composition. The water's glassy surface and surrounding forest create a serene, introspective atmosphere.

Now & Then

Julie Blackmon

11/22/2024 – 1/15/2025

Haw Contemporary is proud to present Now & Then, an exhibition opening November 22, showcasing two distinct bodies of work by celebrated photographer Julie Blackmon accompanied by the poetry of Jim Howard.

In the front gallery, visitors will encounter Blackmon’s work from the early 2000s, all in black and white and presented in a square format. Stylistic and thematic elements inspired by her early influences, such as Sally Mann and Emmet Gowin, are evident in these images. Yet, even at this early stage, viewers can see that Blackmon has already started to develop her own distinctive voice, hinting at themes that would later define her work. 

The second body of work, displayed in the large gallery, features Blackmon’s most recent photographs, many of which are paired with oversized wall vinyl featuring Howard’s poems, inspired by the works. The recent work unfolds with a broader, more expansive narrative. While children remain central subjects, the scale and complexity of her compositions have grown, reflecting a deepening of her artistic voice and a more intricate exploration of her world, which now extends to subtle social and political commentary. 

In the upstairs galleries, viewers will find rare and classic works from the intervening years, several of which have been unavailable on the primary market for years. The large upstairs gallery also features wall-size projections of approximately 20 of Howard’s poems, inspired by Blackmon’s work and accompanied by her images. This pairing will ultimately culminate in a book, scheduled for publication in 2025.

Exhibition Images ()

  • A gallery installation features a large-scale photograph depicting a child in a red dress sitting on a stool in a sparse interior space with various objects scattered on the floor, including books and a chair with patterned upholstery. White gallery walls display the exhibition title and artist credits on the left side.
  • A sparse gallery space with polished concrete flooring displays four framed photographs spaced across white walls beneath an industrial ceiling with exposed beams and skylights. Three smaller images hang on the left and center walls, while a larger color photograph of a figure on a hillside dominates the right wall, each accompanied by descriptive text plaques.
  • Four black and white framed photographs hang evenly spaced on a beige gallery wall at eye level. Each photograph, presented in a square format with white matting and black frames, depicts intimate domestic or personal scenes. The images appear to be from the early 2000s and display a documentary-style aesthetic.
A small rowboat floats on still, mirror-like water reflecting dense green foliage and cloudy sky. Inside the boat, three children in casual clothing recline among wooden oars and a black tire, arranged in a languid, contemplative composition. The water's glassy surface and surrounding forest create a serene, introspective atmosphere.

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