"Patti Smith: American Artist" Frank Stefanko Govinda Gallery 1227 34th St. N.W. (202) 333-1180 Grade: B+
Patti Smith's shaggy dark hair gently fans out behind her, while her unsmiling face and searching eyes give the impression of an artist who is coming to terms with her pain and problems. Frank Stefanko said it was this mystery and her artistic talent that made it impossible for him not to photograph her.
"She's one of the most important American artists, in every aspect," Stefanko said.
Smith is best known for her 1975 album "Horses." She has been called "punk rock's poet laureate" and is known for putting an intellectual and feminist spin on rock. The black and white photos were taken between 1973 and 1979 and show Smith in obscure corners of New York and run-down apartments. The early photos show Smith alone in the city while the later ones are more chaotic, evidence of Smith's rise to stardom. Yet the half-glazed look in her eyes never changes, making an eerie statement on being a star and being an artist.
The two-room, sparsely decorated Govinda Gallery is an odd home for such raw photos. The gallery gives the feeling of a little train depot on a tree-lined Georgetown road, surrounded by neat row houses in sight of bustling M Street.
In sharp contrast, the photos inside, like "Out of the Rubble," focus on the dirty, crumbling Upper West Side of New York. The photography is blunt, but it's real. It's an honest portrayal of Smith's physical appearance, and is very typical of the punk scene and '70s rock and roll style. There is no photo editing: The pores of Smith's skin and the strong curve of her nose are left as they are, along with stains on her shirts and holes in her socks. But the basic photography lets Smith shine in her reality; her melancholy stare in most of the glossy photos is disconcerting and haunting. The closest thing you'll see to glamour here is Smith half-smothered in a black boa, which is more ludicrous than fashionable.
Stefanko's photos are similar to the cover photo for "Horses," by Robert Mapplethorpe. Stefanko said he is one of the few photographers who worked with Smith during her early days as a musician and some of his photos were taken before Mapplethorpe started photographing Smith.
The gallery feels a little pretentious due to the number of black-clad Washingtonians wandering around and speaking in fine art jargon. But Stefanko doesn't fit the "artiste" mold. His white hair and unassuming stature make him look more like a friendly neighbor than a photographer of rock icons. Although he quietly watched the proceedings from a corner of the gallery, Stefanko was happy to talk about his work and eager to talk about Smith. He said he loves this series because of Smith's presence, who he genuinely admires as an artist, mother, woman and friend. "She's mystical, artistic, in tune with the planet and its inhabitants," he said. "In a word: amazing."
These are just a few of over 150 photos Stefanko released in his book "Patti Smith: American Artist." Stefanko said he has known Smith since they met in college in South Jersey and he has been photographing her for over 30 years.
"I always found her to be a fascinating-looking person," Stefanko said. "It was a no-brainer."
He has also worked with Bruce Springsteen and his photographs appear on the covers of Springsteen's albums "Darkness on The Edge of Town" and "The River."
Stefanko's exhibit shows at Govinda Gallery through Oct. 28.
