Reader Print Offer: Leigh Perry

Leigh Perry, Car Park

I'm very, very happy to bring you this as our Summer Reader Print Sale. For a mere $195, inexpensive for fine art by any measure these days, we're offering this wonderfully subtle signed print by TOP reader Leigh Perry from Australia.

[UPDATE: Sale ended at 12 noon Pacific Time on August 20th. Thanks to everyone who participated! —Ed.]

Leigh's picture made an indelible impression on me when I first saw it and I've never forgotten it since. It's become one of my favorite "abstract" photographs ever, by anyone; it's also among the top handful of my favorite finds on TOP in its soon-to-be 14-year history. Part of the reason for this sale is selfish: I just wanted a print of it for myself.  :-)

The colors are lovely. Ctein worked with Leigh on the print; I wasn't part of that process. They got it just right as far as I can see. I wouldn't change a thing.

The irony, of course, is that the photograph isn't abstract at all—it's a straight photograph of the wall and floor of a car park (parking lot) that just happened to have those two wonderful echoing marks arranged as if by an artist's hand. That it's also our second straight (!!) sale of pictures of concrete just makes me laugh, that's all. (It just worked out that way. Please don't think this is going to be the policy for all print sales from now on!)

I suppose you'll either like this or you won't. I think it's elegant and evocative and subtle, sere and plain and exquisite. I love it. I'd rather have this on my wall than a Sugimoto (not to detract anything from his accomplishment). 

Here's how it works
You probably already know how our sales work. We take orders for five days, then close the orders, and then the prints are made at one time to fulfill the orders that we've already received and that are already paid for. This way we can keep the prices low for you but still reward the photographer with a nice return.

Let's see, any more details? The image size is right around 15x19 inches (38x48 cm) on 17x22" paper. The shipping price is the same to anywhere in the world. Damaged or missing prints will be replaced at our expense, and you have a complete guarantee—if you don't like it once you see it, we'll send you a 100% refund (minus shipping).

More about Leigh, and the print, in days to come.

Note: Unless you need to take your time for some reason, please don't wait to order—the pictures have to go to Leigh in Australia for signatures, and PayPal mandates that we start shipping to customers within 30 days. That's kinda tight. It will be much easier for us if we have a significant number of orders to ship out to him in the first batch. If you order early you'll be doing us a big favor. Many thanks!

Mike
(Thanks to Leigh and Ctein)

Original contents copyright 2019 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site.

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

Bandbox: "It looks like a color field painting with a couple of scuff marks."

K4kafka: "Like Mark Rothko, on a happy day...."

Mike Potter (partial comment): "That photo really doesn't speak to me. At all."

Peter Gilbert: "That's what I call Wabi-sabi at its best. Great shot."

 

Comments

[Paul Braverman]

Great picture and a great argument for printing BIG. That photo should be Thomas Struth size at the least, although Andrea Gursky or Jeff Wall size might do it a disservice. If only I wasn’t living through my own, personal Great Recession . . .

BTW, I see no need to take gratuitous shots Hiroshi Sugimoto, a great artist and a gentleman both. I’m a big fan of Ms. Perry’s, but there’s not much question which I’d rather have hanging on my wall. Although I suppose that Sugimoto-san has reached the point in his career where he can brush off such vexation.

[Dogman]

I had to laugh out loud when I first saw this photo. Somewhere in those Lineco Museum boxes staring down on me from the shelf above the computer is one I did a few years ago that is very close to Leigh's. I would have sent a JPEG but I would have to find it among all the files I have never managed to organize.

No one who has seen my photo ever got it. It's just a white brick wall and parking lot with scuff marks to most people.

Actually I like Leigh's better than mine. The repetition of the tire mark in Leigh's photo makes it.

[Dennis]

So ... it's not abstract ... it's concrete ?

It is a great photo. Reminds me of Jay Maisel talking about how, when people ask "why did you take that picture" about certain images, he replies "how could you NOT ?"

[Arg]

Hello, I am interested, but the order page doesn't say anything about non-USA orders and shipping. Especially since I am in Australia, and the prints have to go to Australia for signing. An Australia-only shipping rate might be sensible.

Feel free to email me in reply. cheers

[We could do that, but it would be such a hassle we'd have to charge you $35. :-) --Mike]

[Mike Potter]

That photo really doesn't speak to me. At all. But I wish you and Leigh great success with the print sale. I appreciate the fact that you put these on.

[Ctein]

Dear Arg,

Yes it does. I quote:

"The prices on the buttons include ALL shipping and handling charges, which are the same for anywhere in the world, in or out of the US."

Please understand that my international shipping rates are highly subsidized. Actual shipping costs are twice that. Even if Leigh and I were willing to go through the hassle of sorting an Australian order from the rest, you wouldn't save money.

Mike thought he was joking, but not so much.

pax / Ctein