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Ira Tattelman: The Restroom Series Ira Tattelman is a Washington DC artist who has been creating for over two decades. As an architect, much of Tattelman's artwork deals with structures, particularly of urban abandonment and decay. His previous exhibit on Gay Art Gallery was another example of this theme, the photographic documentation and interpretation of the St. Mark's Baths in New York City. His work with installation art also relates to this interest. "My photographs address ordinary spaces and utilitarian objects. I focus on what is normally hidden, trying to make the unseen or overlooked visible. By shifting the frame of reference to these modest sites, I intend to subvert the viewers expectations. My artwork interacts with the order of the everyday, negotiating between private and public, revealing the vitality within the margins."
Ira's photographs of restrooms he has encountered are multi-layered in their visualization. As pictures of objects, they recall the tradition of Edward Steichen and others. Colors and monochromism highlight the subjects of the images, and shapes play a part. But the iconographic elements cannot be merely taken at face value. The use of the nude self-portrait reminds us that there is a cultural bias at play here as well. Restrooms, bathrooms, tearooms, cottages; the names recall their importance in gay social and sexual history. And they represent a certain intimacy on many levels. While these photographs stand on their own as images, they also have the potential for the viewer to see something extra in them. Ira Tattelman has exhibited extensively in the Washington DC area and New York City, in many group and individual exhibits over the past eight years. He is a graduate of Columbia and Harvard Universities. He is a active participant in DC's Triangle Artists Group (TAG), whose members include gay and lesbian artists who regularly meet, exhibit, and participate in arts activism. These photographs are available as one-of-a-kind works. The first section are pairs of images that are meant to be viewed together. Please also keep in mind that the colors of the original works may be slightly different than these computer images, due to the scanning process involved. Please also note that some of these photos are out of focus. That is how the artist intends them to be. For more information or to purchase, please email us ____________________________________________________________________
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