Happy Birthday Diane Arbus

Two photographers captured the collective DickTool Co imagination in the 1970s and 80s, both Americans who worked in black and white imagery. Ralph Eugene Meatyard and Diane Arbus captured striking portraits of the marginal people in society with Arbus’ work leaning out for love as far it could go. Giants, transvestites, dwarfs, carney folk, the deformed and forlorn opened their souls to Arbus’ lens with striking results. As Diane Arbus, born on this day in 1923, said, “I really believe there are things nobody would see if I didn’t photograph them.” And then she said, “A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.” and “Most people go through life dreading they’ll have a traumatic experience. Freaks were born with their trauma. They’ve already passed their test in life. They’re aristocrats.” Not Dead/Dead since her suicide July 26, 1971. Ever wonder what her favourite thing was? I quote, “My favorite thing is to go where I’ve never been.”