Rodeo Stars at 20x200

This week my second print edition went on sale at 20x200. The picture is from a great day I spent a few years ago in the Flint Hills town of Strong City, Kansas. Here are a few more pictures from that day.

... and the one at 20x200

Tow Lot

Kansas City's new tow lot (el dorado architects). See Miki Baird's photographs of the old lot here and here

Manifest Destiny

Thanks to The Literary Review – and Sara at Jen Bekman Projects for making the connection.

R Bar

New bar in Kansas City's West Bottoms

A Painter's Studio

Ethnic Type

2009 Ethnic Enrichment Festival, Swope Park, Kansas City, Missouri

Fair Portraits at Flickr

Thanks to everyone who let me take their picture last week at the Missouri State Fair. I've posted the complete set on my Flickr page.

Day Six

Day Five

Day Four

Day Three

Day Two

Missouri State Fair – Day One

Missouri State Fair

Mr. Peanut, Missouri State Fair, 1984

I'm off to spend a few days at the Missouri State Fair. I'll be there from August 13th to 17th. So if your heading to the fair, make sure to stop by. You can find me upstairs in the Fine Art Building.

Centennial Celebration – Arma, Kansas

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 2009
10:00 A.M. — PARADE.
Singing of National Anthem – Michael Doue
Homecoming Queens – Amelia Evans & Samantha Cunningham
GRAND MARSHAL – John Cummings to represent all Past Commanders of Lon Helm Jr. Post No. 182 Arma American Legion.

All Parade entries to be judged must be registered and lined up by 9:15 a.m. by the Arma Elementary School. Float entries will be judged on the following criteria: relates to theme, workmanship, and overall appearance.

FLOAT CONTEST – COMMERCIAL & ORGANIZATIONAL FLOATS
Centennial Grand Prize $300
2nd - $250
3rd - $200
4th - $150
5th - $125
6th - $100
NOVELTY CONTEST (includes pets, bicycles, & novelties)
1st prize - $50
2nd -$40
3rd - $30
4th - $20
5th - $10
ANTIQUE CARS (1971 AND UNDER)
1st - $25
2nd - $20
3rd - $15.
CLASSIC CARS
1st - $25
2nd - $20
3rd - $15
ANTIQUE & CLASSIC TRACTORS
1st - $25
2nd - $20
3rd - $15
MOTORCYCLES
1st - $25
2nd - $20
3rd - $15

la dolce vita

I suddenly feel very exotic, just wish I could read this.

Update #2:

Thanks to Bia, I now have a much more eloquent translation...

"This terrible rain that devastated Sao Paulo today caused me, besides the traditional "gray day" lazyness that asks for a comforter, a strong desire for summer. And that's how, in a Beach Boys vibe, that I caught myself thinking about California, about its colours and shapes, its retro vibe beaches with merry-go-rounds and ice-cream shacks painted light hues...

I was reading my favourite blogs, that I frequently read and I came across this amazing american photographer, who portrays landscapes that have this sunny American Way of Life mood, kind of dusty, with fading colours and some sort of nostalgic feeling.

Although it is in Kansas, a state which is more famous for The Wizard of Oz than for beaches, the images of Mike Sinclair could perfectly have been come out of a surf movie from the 60s.

I share them with you so we can cheer up this winter a little bit, which is more londonlike than tropical, and who knows, the sun encourages itself to show up..."

Update:

Here is the auto translation from the Portuguese...

It was stroll us my blogs of estimation, that I am going to read with frequency and I found that incredible American photographer, that portrays fairly landscapes that has that footprint American Way of Life sunny, dusty a little, with colors faded and a certain air of nostalgia.

Despite of it be of the Kansas, more famous state by the Magician of Oz than by the beaches, the images of Mike Sinclair perfect could have left of a film of surfing of the years 60.

I divide with you for see we cheer a little that winter, that is more for londoner than tropical, and, who knows like this, the sun is encouraged it come back it appear...

Platte County Fair

Went to my first fair of the season last weekend.
The Platte County Fair started in 1863 and is the oldest
continuously operating fair west of the Mississippi.

Sea Ranch

Gayl and I are just back from a few days at Sea Ranch, that preserve of 60's Modernism. If you go make sure to get the caramel rolls at Twofish Bakery. Thanks Mika, Eirik, Isak and Dashiell for a great vacation.

Momba Riders

In the summer of 2001 I spent several Saturday nights photographing people as they waited to ride a roller coaster called the Momba.

I just posted a few of those pictures here.

Happy 4th.

Today at 20x200

My print goes on sale at 2 pm EST today. Go here for the details.

20x200

I'm excited to announce I'm having a print for sale at 20x200 this week! For advance notice and more details sign up to the mailing list here.

and the winners are...

Yes it's true – I'm a hot shot.

Manchester School

Manchester School, date unknown, Missouri Valley Special Collections, KCMO Public Library

Went out yesterday morning and tried to photograph the old Manchester School at Manchester and Truman Road. It’s been closed for several years, not sure how long. As always seems to happen, even at these abandoned sites, just as I had figured out a position to shoot from and had the camera set up I noticed a guy walking towards me who looked official. I was sure he was going to tell me I couldn't photograph. But he walked right by me, got out his point and shoot camera, and started taking pictures of the gang graffiti all over the front of the building–like I wasn't even there! It was a first. Still, I was so sure he eventually would turn his attention to me that I struck first by engaging him in conversation. I asked about his boots–they looked new–ostrich I think. They were new, he’d gotten them on his last trip to Dallas. I told him I’d just bought some at Kleinschmidt’s, my first pair since I was a kid (I need them for my new Saturday night activity–two-step dancing). He works for the school district and couldn't have cared less about my reasons for taking pictures of the school. We talked for a while–he told me what a big problem graffiti was becoming, what an amazing place the school was on the inside, how the boiler was custom made and even had the name of the school cast into its iron doors.

Mutual Musicians Foundation

I just added to my web site a few pictures of Kansas City's Mutual Musicians Foundation.

Postcard For Isak

Church

Grace Lutheran Church, Lamar, MO 1958
Uel C. Ramey, Architect

photo by mike sinclair, 2008

Lunch Counter, Missouri State Fair

Foot Longs

Kansas Livestock

Steer, John Steuart Curry, Kansas State Capitol

The Golden Ox

A Kansas City landmark, pictures here.

City Beautiful: Hesse McGraw

Kansas City’s parks fill a huge gap between accident and intention — forming the city’s center, void, mysterious plateau and its new normal. These parks wear the pain and joy of the city, its confusion and distress. They come together as much as fall apart, in both senses present.

You can find dirty sex, soaring kites, fountain bathing, plenty of blood, old Cheetos and defunct relationships carved in picnic tables. Interlocking questions swirl about these places — of maintenance, function, community, beauty, income and race. But more pointedly, what is the role of the park in the life of the city? These ponderous, softened places that conceal death and celebrate life are forgotten only to be verdantly reborn, remembered and loved for their tiniest details or landmark trees, are in the game and out of the way, there if we need them and never mind if we don’t, it will all grow back next year anyways.
– HESSE McGRAW