Wow! It’s finally here.

Earlier this summer, I mentioned partnering with PhotoMidwest and the Arts + Literature Laboratory to organize a photography festival here in Madison. As usual, I bit off more than I could chew, and I’ve been firing on all cylinders this summer. It was exhausting but also exhilarating, a real creative shot in the arm.

I’m delighted with the program we’ve put together for you. We’re filling the building with photography and kicking off a photographer speaker series. Later this fall, we’re partnering with the Wisconsin Book Festival to present an afternoon of photobook talks. We’re even launching a documentary film series. (More on that soon.)

This festival weekend begins an ongoing photography program we're developing at the ArtLitLab. I’m eager for you to join us, and I hope you’ll help me spread the word. Please share this post with your photography friends. I appreciate it!

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The City Cast Madison podcast has more about our festival program and the photography events we’re hosting next weekend and beyond. I love talking about pictures, so this conversation with Bianca Martin was a lot of fun.

Our PhotoMidwest festival launch is next weekend, September 27-28, at the Arts + Literature Laboratory in downtown Madison. Our opening weekend includes three photography exhibitions: the PhotoMidwest 13th Biennial Exhibition, a solo show by Rashod Taylor, and the FlakPhoto Midwest Flat File. In addition, we'll host a Friday night reception and artist talks + book signings by Kris Graves, Kelli Connell, and Deanna Dikeman on Saturday. All events are free and open to the public.

Full schedule

Friday, September 27

• 6–8 PM PhotoMidwest Festival 2024 Opening Reception

Saturday, September 28

• 9 AM Kris Graves Professional Practices for Photographers Workshop

• 11 AM Kelli Connell Pictures for Charis lecture & book signing

• 1:30 PM Deanna Dikeman Relative Moments lecture & book signing

• 3:30 PM Kris Graves Keynote Lecture & book signing

Kelli Connell, Pictures for Charis lecture & book signing

I fell in love with Kelli Connell’s Double Life pictures years ago and have followed her ever since. In February, Aperture Foundation published Pictures for Charis, her new book. Kelli recently opened a big show at the High Museum of Art and is coming up from Chicago to share the project with us, so this is a real treat.

Event info

Deanna Dikeman, Relative Moments lecture & book signing

I met Deanna Dikeman while visiting Kansas City in 2014 and have always appreciated her sensitive eye. She made a splash with her Leaving and Waving book, and the New Yorker published this piece a few years ago. Chose Commune published her new book, Relative Moments, in April, and she’ll sign copies after her talk. Don’t miss this!

Event info

Kris Graves Keynote Lecture & Book Signing

Kris Graves might be the hardest-working man in photography. He juried the PhotoMidwest 13th Biennial Exhibition, featuring photographers from across the Midwest. Kris will give some juror’s remarks at the opening reception on Friday night, teach a professional practices workshop on Saturday morning, and give a keynote lecture about his work as an artist, curator, and publisher on Saturday afternoon. His book, Privileged Mediocrity, is outstanding, and he’ll sign copies afterward.

Event info

Rashod Taylor: Little Black Boy exhibition

I know many of you are Rashod Taylor fans — I am, too! Working with him to curate his Little Black Boy exhibition was one of my summer highlights. Rashod won’t be with us for the opening weekend, but he will be in Madison to give a talk about his photography on November 2, so save the date. His large-scale prints are truly stunning.

Event info

In addition to our ArtLitLab photography programs, PhotoMidwest member exhibits include “In Search of Awe​​” at Overture Center’s Playhouse Gallery and “For the Love of Light” at the Pyle Center, both in downtown Madison.

Finally, I’m excited to announce the FlakPhoto Midwest Flat File exhibition. This is the third Midwest print show I’ve organized in Madison, and it’s especially exciting because it kicks off a new art collector program at the Arts + Literature Laboratory. I’ll write more about this and introduce you to our flat file artists in a few days.

That’s all for now. I’ll be posting updates on Instagram this week. Please let me now if you can make it and feel free to email me with questions. See you soon!