The images were from Jock's second book. In the environment of this
gallery there was interaction between these images and some of the other
work that was being shown in the gallery (I think Horst's photographs were
nearby). To see these prints large as life, the technical quality of the
platinum prints (I hope my memory serves me well), and the dialogue that
happens when you see prints hung next to each other, all this combined was
certainly far from controversial.
I don't even remember if I "thought" anything while looking at them. Just
got the feeling of being just flesh and bone, being that age once. Down
the road, I will pull one of these books down to look at not because of its
past controversy
but rather I will need a reminder of where I have been. Jock tells that
story well.
I hope that the flames of controversy never engulf our creativity. We take
so long to develop this voice. To stop producing work that is our narrative
because of threats to well-being would be the greatest tragedy.
Francis