Len Bernstein

American, born 1950

Biography

Country of Origin: U.S.A.
Born: July 23, 1950
Artist's Statement:
At the heart of my approach to photography is this principle stated by Eli Siegel, American poet, critic, and founder of the philosophy Aesthetic Realism: "All beauty is a making one of opposites, and the making one of opposites is what we are going after in ourselves." The purpose of art, I learned, is not to create a higher realm, separate and superior to the "real" world--art stands for how we should look at every situation, object, loved one, or the next stranger we meet. I am infinitely grateful to Eli Siegel and Aesthetic Realism for teaching me to be a kinder, more integrated person, and a deeper photographer.
Collections:
The Library of Congress, Washington, DC
Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, France
Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, MD
The Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY
The New York Public Library, New York, NY
Museum of the City of New York, New York, NY
Hebrew Home for the Aged, Riverdale, NY
Terrain Gallery, New York, NY
Group Exhibitions:
1976 - Present: contributor to exhibitions at Terrain Gallery, New York, NY, including Three Photographers (1999), 45th Anniversary Exhibition (2000), The Surprising and Abiding Opposites (2003)
1984 - 85: Traveling exhibition sponsored by Art Against Apartheid
1992: Recent Acquisitions: Photography, The New York Public Library, New York, NY
1998: One World: Eight Points-of-View, Pleiades Gallery, New York, NY
2003: Photography: In Black and White, New York Law School, New York, NY
One-Man Exhibitions:
1998: Proud Moments, Pleiades Gallery, New York, NY
1999: Hebrew Home for the Aged, Riverdale, New York
2000: The Wonder of the Everyday, Pleiades Gallery, New York, NY
2002: Peez Leweez, Livingston Manor, NY
Seminars:
1986 - Present: Presented papers on the life and work of photographers who have influenced the medium in public seminars at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, New York City. Partial list of titles: Does Art Have the Courage We Are Looking For? (Robert Capa); Man: Scornful and Praising (W. Eugene Smith); Does Art Stand for Our Greatest Ambition? (Ansel Adams); What Will Make Us Proud (Edward Weston); Is Good Will Our Greatest Power? (Alfred Stieglitz)
Published Articles and Photographs:
2001: "Jacob Riis, or What Do the World and People Deserve," published in Photographica World: The Journal of the Photographic Collectors Club of Great Britain
2001: "Candid Photography, and the Meaning of 'Real-Life,'" published in the internet magazine, Apogee Photo
2003: "Portraiture: The Pleasure of Knowing People," published in Journal of the Print World, Meredith, New Hampshire
2003: Portfolio of 9 photographs published in lichen, a literary journal, Ontario Canada
In the Press
2003: "Gazing into the mystery of photography," artist's profile and interview by Ted Waddell, published in Sullivan County Democrat, Callicoon, New York

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