When the last Polaroid factory closed down in 2008, the good folks at the Impossible Project stepped in to rescue their machines. Thankfully, the Impossible Project still believed in the power of analog photography, even in the digital age (sound familiar?), and they wanted to create our own instant films to save the millions of original Polaroid cameras out there from becoming obsolete.
After years of research and refinement, they are now the only people making film for 600, SX70 and Spectra/Image Cameras, as well as 8x10 large format film at our two factories in Enschede and Monheim. We here at Third Man are big fans and big supporters, and now we're the inspiration for one of the Impossible Project's very special runs of limited-edition instant film — one that develops in black & yellow! Be still our hearts!
To launch the collaboration, Third Man has selected three photographers to create a unique photo exhibition using the duochrome film. The exhibition will open on 10th September in the Blue Room at the label’s Nashville HQ and will run until 16 September.
The photographers are New York-based Patrick Pantano who shot the cover photos for the White Stripes’ Elephant and White Blood Cells albums; musician and tour photographer David Swanson who has been on the road with Jack White and previously worked as Terry Richardson’s assistant, and Third Man’s own Angelina Castillo.
“Photography using mechanical means is a beautiful art form. Digital pictures are very portable and easy to make happen, but you can’t hold the photo in your hand, or put it in a family album. T here’s a romantic feeling of pulling a photograph out of a polaroid camera, holding it your hands and showing it to others. It can’t be replaced or replicated.” — Jack White
“Since the start of The Impossible Project, we’ve always collaborated with like minded people and companies, and the guys at Third Man really couldn’t be a better fit. We both celebrate making real things, records and photos you can actually hold and pass around, and all the struggle and pride that comes with it. The black and yellow film is also one of my favorite things to date, so I couldn’t be happier that we’re releasing it together with such a great partner.” — Oskar Smolokowski, CEO of The Impossible Project
Join us for the opening reception, September 10th from 7-9pm in the Blue Room. If you can't make it, the exhibition will be on display through September 16th and open during normal Third Man business hours.
I’m with quizze on this, we need some stuff in the galleries. :)
Online Gallery!!!!! I was just musing at how many photo collections TMR has jad in the last year and thinking that the Vault Galleries need some hot links… Hook us up!!!
The idea of that black and yellow film makes me want to go out and buy a Polaroid camera. Please do share a few examples for those of us who can’t get to Nash next week. If posting them on-line defeats the purpose of people going to a real place to see real pictures, maybe Third Man Books could compile some highlights and publish them for us in album form?
<3
Got to check this out …. for sure !
What a beautiful idea! Hope you create a little catalog of the exhibit for us, TMR.
I’ve got an old Polaroid Sun I rescued from my great aunt’s house after she died. She even kept the box and the warranty. Unfortunately the rollers are a bit loose so I’ve only ever used one pack of film in it. Still the best fun I’ve had in ages!
Great idea CJ … Even if the avante garde notion of upcycling old footage became a revisited form of exploratory use/reuse of 16mm and 8mm the fact would remain that your analogue celluloid is not dead… German and Russian filmmakers like from days gone by might finally get some screen time like Bruce Bailles film collages did at the Light and Sound Machine… Their time has come as well i think
I would love to be able to see this exhibition—hopefully you’ll be able to extend it a little, or do a reprise sometime. All the photographers do amazing work, and I’d love to see their creative use of the black/yellow.
No… Seriously… Its an archivally sound practice and I am sure to enjoy at least a few images from this given how much I enjoy the work of Angelina… I can remember so long ago when she first came in and placed an application… These duochromes remind me of the split color vinyls to the degree that i would love to see a playable poloroid come from this partnership… Eat your heart out Andy Warhol… TMR stole your factory fame!!!