Mark Mignogna, one of eight children, born in Syracuse, NY on November 11th 1966. His first experience with the magic of photography came in the mid 70's, via the shutter release of his older sister's "not to be touched" Polaroid One Step. The subsequently rolled out image of his elderly neighbor's 19th century carriage house was dwarfed by; yet, lovingly held in the arms of a magnificent Norway spruce. Not a pivotal moment in the history of art though perhaps, a personal awakening to the enormous number of times such an instrument could be used to document even his small world. The work was left anonymously beside her camera.
*
After moving to New York City in 1989 Mark began what he considers an education in art. This being, 30 years of full and part-time employment within the N.Y.C. art world: CDS Gallery 1990-1993, Throckmorton Fine Art 1993-2004, Barry Friedman Ltd. 2004-2006. As well as freelance work for a number of other art galleries, auction houses, private dealers, major collectors, artists, and art services companies since 2006. This exposure familiarized him with most of the visual and plastic arts, from Neolithic sculpture to new media works.
*
It was early on at Throckmorton F.A., while working with the tremendous collection of vintage and contemporary photographs, when Mark became inspired to take his casual photographic efforts to a more involved level. From that time forward he was permanently attached to a 35mm Nikon-F with the occasional use of 6X6cm and 8X10" cameras. He has gone entirely with the use of a large format camera and 4X5 inch black and white film since 2006.
*
Mark continues to painstakingly produce hand made Gelatin Silver prints in a traditional darkroom using long established archival methods. Still living in New York; he shoulders the load through what he calls his primary subject: the defiant, obstructive, unyielding, extravagant, flaunting, inappropriate and ever more odd, though universally beloved 843 acre profundity, Central Park.
*
After moving to New York City in 1989 Mark began what he considers an education in art. This being, 30 years of full and part-time employment within the N.Y.C. art world: CDS Gallery 1990-1993, Throckmorton Fine Art 1993-2004, Barry Friedman Ltd. 2004-2006. As well as freelance work for a number of other art galleries, auction houses, private dealers, major collectors, artists, and art services companies since 2006. This exposure familiarized him with most of the visual and plastic arts, from Neolithic sculpture to new media works.
*
It was early on at Throckmorton F.A., while working with the tremendous collection of vintage and contemporary photographs, when Mark became inspired to take his casual photographic efforts to a more involved level. From that time forward he was permanently attached to a 35mm Nikon-F with the occasional use of 6X6cm and 8X10" cameras. He has gone entirely with the use of a large format camera and 4X5 inch black and white film since 2006.
*
Mark continues to painstakingly produce hand made Gelatin Silver prints in a traditional darkroom using long established archival methods. Still living in New York; he shoulders the load through what he calls his primary subject: the defiant, obstructive, unyielding, extravagant, flaunting, inappropriate and ever more odd, though universally beloved 843 acre profundity, Central Park.
© Mark Mignogna