Artists Talk & Book Signing - Bruce Haley & Tomas Van Houtryve July 5, 2012

Carte Blanche Artists Talk & Book signing series
Thursday July 5th, 6pm-8:30pm


Carte Blanche is pleased to invite you to its second artists’ talk and book signing event featuring photographers Bruce Haley and Tomas van Houtryve.

Join us at 973 Valencia Street, San Francisco on Thursday July 5th from 6pm for their introductory presentations followed by a fascinating discussion about Communism and its impact in the 21st century moderated by Judy Walgren, Director of Photography at the San Francisco Chronicle.


Selected photos of Cuba from Tomas van Houtryve’s book “Behind the Curtains” will also be on display.
So take this opportunity to meet the artists, get your books signed and collect amazing limited-edition prints while enjoying a glass of wine!
Sunder

Taken between 1994 and 2002, Bruce Haley’s photographs reflect the complexity of land and life in the former Soviet Bloc. Decaying industrial sites and toxic landscapes, rich farmland and traditional villages: his images capture the joys and challenges facing these newly independent nations, as they struggle to leave behind the legacy of Communism for an unknown future.
Bruce Haley
Bruce Haley is the recipient of the Robert Capa Gold Medal, one of the most prestigious photography awards in the world. Haley received this honor for his coverage of Burma‘s bloody ethnic civil war.


Behind the Curtains of 21st Century Communism
In several nations across the globe, the Communist Party has managed to hold on, mutate and adapt to the 21st century. Whether due to unaddressed class inequality, nostalgia or the steel fist of totalitarianism, these places continue to resist against the tides of history. Over the course of seven years, Tomas secured unprecedented access to North Korea, Cuba, China, Nepal, Vietnam, Laos and Moldova. He discovered a secretive world of revolutionaries, spies, opposition fighters and ordinary workers. His photographs explore the gulf between the high ideals of communism and its complex present day reality. “Behind the Curtains” is the winner of the 2012 POYi World Understanding Award.
Tomas van Houtryve
Tomas is a member of VII. He is the recipient of numerous prestigious awards including POYi Photographer of the Year, the Bayeux Prize for War Correspondents and the Perpignan Young Photographer Award. Solo exhibitions of his work have been shown in Paris, New York City, Spain and Italy. Many of his photographs of intense political actions are, paradoxically, distinguished by their intimacy. Tomas is part of Carte Blanche's permanent collection.