The 2020 Lenscratch Staff Favorite Things
Today, the Lenscratch staff shares some of their favorite things of 2020. This isn’t a BEST OF list – (defining something artistic as the best is totally subjective) – but instead, we want to share art forms that excited and inspired us, from books to photographs to music to television.
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ALINE SMITHSON, Founder and Editor-in-Chief
Favorite Book of 2020: Predicting the Past, Zohar Studios: The Lost Years, by Stephen Berkman, published by Hat & Beard Press.
Favorite Lenscratch Post of 2020: Raymond Thompson Jr: The 2020 Lenscratch Student Prize: 1st Place Winner
It’s always a special day when we announce the Lenscratch Student Prize Winner and I so appreciated Raymond’s multi-approaches to visual storytelling and the reconsiderations of histories through a Black lens.
Favorite Photo (that I didn’t take): Oh so so many, some featured below: Jon Henry’s work blows me away, Eva Woolridge’s stunning imagery, but this year, more than any other, I was inspired by so many image makers.
Favorite Artist: Tierra Whack
What can I say, her songs and visuals just speak to me.
Favorite Dance Music: Dua Lipa, Don’t Start Now
Favorite Producer: RL Grime’s Halloween IX
Favorite Binge Watching:
Early Covid: Married at First Sight, Tiger King, Queer Eye, We’re Here
Middle Covid: CNN and MSNBC
Late Covid: Queen’s Gambit, The Crown, Schitt’s Creek, Euphoria
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BRENNAN BOOKER, Director of Special Programs
BARBARA CIUREJ and LINDSAY LOCHMAN, Collaborations Editors
Favorite book of 2020:
Barbara: This book made me laugh: The Wonderful World of Ladybird Books for GrownUps by Jason Hazely & Joel Morris
Lindsay: Entangled Life by Merlin Sheldrake
Favorite Lenscratch post of 2020:
Lindsay and I agree that the overview of both the jurying process and this moment in photography was sensitively covered in this post on the 2020 International Juried Show at the Center of Photographic Arts
Favorite photo that you didn’t take from 2020:
Barbara: this poignant image by Jon Henry
Lindsay: Paula Gillen’s Exploring The Origin of the Milky Way
Favorite artist/song in 2020:
Barbara: not really of this time, but Hildegard of Bingen’s Hymns and Songs from the 12th century have transported me away from the hellish news.
Lindsay: Not favorites, but random encounters with very amazing song/artist combos.
They made me think a lot about American History.
The Ballad Of Davy Crocket (Album Version) – Louis Armstrong
Johnny Cash – Got Rhythm
Favorite Binge Watching in 2020 (favorite tv show):
Barbara: Ozark
Lindsay: Waldemar Januszczak’ art history videos on Amazon Prime
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LINDA ALTERWITZ, Art and Science Editor
Favorite Book of 2020: David Maisel: Proving Ground
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KELLYE EISWORTH, Managing Director
Favorite book in 2020: Hope in the Dark by Rebecca Solnit
Favorite (photo) book of 2020: Keeper of the Hearth: Picturing Roland Barthes’ Unseen Photograph, Editor Odette England
Favorite Lenscratch post of 2020: Mare Kapajeva: Dream is Wonderful, Yet Unclear
Favorite photo that you didn’t take from 2020: Jeremiah Ariaz, Presidential Cutouts, Republican Campaign Office, McAllen, TX, 2020
Favorite artist/song in 2020: Lizzo
Favorite Binge Watching in 2020 (favorite tv show): Grace and Frankie
MICHAEL HONEGGER, European Content Editor (based in Nice, France)
Favorite photo book of 2020:Brenton Hamilton’s, A Blue Idyll
For a brilliant stroll through the artifacts of history, immerse yourself in the brilliant hues of Brenton Hamilton’s love affair with alternative photographic processes. It is a photographic dream world that should not be missed.
Favorite Lenscratch post of 2020: Reveal: Cig Harvey, Andrea Modica and Debbie Fleming Caffery
Three of my favorite photographers in one post…what more could one ask for? Their styles are diverse but somehow the team approach is brilliant.
Favorite artist/song in 2020:
Laura Pausini, Lo sì
Laura Pausini’s soaring anthem is a lovely way to end a film starring Sophia Loren in a dazzling performance. Watch the film (The Life Ahead) then rejoice in Pausini.
Favorite Binge Watching 2020: A Suitable Boy directed by Mira Nair. I devoured the book when it first came out many years ago so I was so ready to binge the series. Having done so, I loved the cinematography and acting but felt they rushed the courses in trying to cram a 1000 page book into 6 episodes. Nonetheless, I loved it!
Favorite photo that I did not take: Magritte had a point!
ERICA CHEUNG, Content Editor
Favorite book of 2020: Just Us: An American Conversation by Claudia Rankine. I would recommend any one of her books in a heartbeat.
Posts on Lenscratch may not be reproduced without the permission of the Lenscratch staff and the photographer.
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