Jock Sturges

Jock Sturges (born 1947) is an American photographer, best known for his images of adolescents, often taken nude. His work, often taken on the nude beaches of California and France, has been the subject of controversy.

Biography

Sturges was born in New York City, and worked in San Francisco for many years. He graduated with a BFA in Perceptual Psychology and photography from Marlboro College in 1974, and received an MFA in photography from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1985. He now resides in Seattle, Washington.

Criticism and legal troubles

Many of Sturges' works feature young girls and boys in the nude. As such, some critics have claimed that his work is child pornography disguised as fine art. In April 1990, FBI agents raided his studio, confiscating his equipment and his work, and alleged he was creating child pornography. The art world and naturist communities were enraged, and publicly defended him. After over a year of investigation, the case was thrown out by a grand jury. Eventually Sturges got most of his work and equipment back. Later in the same year, his work came under attack by Christian conservatives led by Operation Rescue and Focus on the Family. Protestors picketed at major bookstores around the country which stocked his works. Sturges received more support from civil libertarians and artistic associations. Sturges also defended himself through a series of talks and interviews.

Published works

His published collections include:
*"The Last Day of Summer" (1991, Aperture, NY) ISBN 0-89381-538-1
*"Radiant Identities" (1994, Aperture, NY)
*"Evolution of Grace" (1994, Gakken, Tokyo)
*"Jock Sturges" (1996, Scalo, Zürich)
*"" (2000, Scalo, Zürich)
*"" (2004, Paul Cava Fine Art, Bala Cynwyd, PA)
*"" (2004, Aperture, NY)
*"Misty Dawn Portrait of a Muse" (2008, Aperture, NY)
*"Jock Sturges Life Time" (2008 Steidl)

Other noted publications include:
*"Montage" (Graham Webb International)
*"Standing on Water" (1991, Catalogue of Portfolio published by Paul Cava Fine Art, Philadelphia)
*"Jock Sturges Color" (Catalogue of Portfolio published by Ataraxia, Bensalem)
*"Line of Beauty and Grace" (2007 Amadelio Films)Documentary

Limited Edition Portfolios of Original Photographs:
*" Standing On Water" (Paul Cava Fine Art, 1991, boxed portolio of ten oversized 20x24 inch gelatin silver photographs)
*" " (Paul Cava Fine Art, 2004, boxed portolio of ten 11x14 inch gelatin silver photographs)
*"Jock Sturges Platinum" Edition of 10 signature platinum photographs (Russell Levin Gallery Monterey California 2007)

His photographs also appear as cover art on two novels by Jennifer McMahon, "Promise Not to Tell" and "Island of Lost Girls".

ee also

*David Hamilton (photographer)

External links

*worldcat id|id=lccn-n92-88096
* [http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/03.19.98/cover/sturges1-9811.html Interview, by David Steinberg of MetroActive, 1998]
* [http://photography-now.net/jock_sturges/portfolio1.html Photographs by Jock Sturges]
* [http://www.paulcava.com/STURGES-25%20YRS/jocksturgestwent.html View Examples of Jock Sturges Photography]
* [http://www.kochgallery.com/artists/contemporary/Sturges Robert Koch Gallery]
* [http://www.dazereader.com/jocksturges.htm DazeReader profile] by Evan Daze
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1568/is_n1_v30/ai_20529211 Photo flap - campaign against authors Jock Sturges and David Hamilton]
* [http://art.childrenincinema.com/person.php?id=6 Link to more Photos by Jock Sturges]
*amadelio: [http://www.amadelio.com/vlog/2008/01/10/vlog-videoblog-jock-sturges-line-of-beauty-and-grace Interview with Jock Sturges, Montalivet, France] , July 2007