Born in Arkansas, raised in Oklahoma, headed west to California in 1966. Attended L. A. City College TV Production and theater history, Columbia School of Broadcasting, photography at the Art Center College of Design, inspired by photojournalist Ken Light in his photojournalism class at the Academy of Art, San Francisco.I worked as photographer and audio visual specialist in the advertising department of The Bank of California in San Francisco. I freelanced for the SF Bay Guardian, including a cover story in 1983 entitled “Shooting The Troubles, a photo essay on Northern Ireland” I contributed photos to the San Francisco Chronicle.. I have shown my work at the Nanny Goat Hill Gallery and the Eye gallery in San Francisco.
My style has been documentary in my self assigned projects. I recently self published three books using blurb.com, “Polk Gulch” based on a photo exhibit I did at Nanny Goat Hill Gallery in 1982, “Going home to Little Dixie” about my return to Oklahoma in 2003 where I lived for 6 years. It is a photo essay bout the people of Southeastern Oklahoma, ranchers, gas well crews, high school basketball and many other things. “Off the Road” about a homeless artist.
Starting with my books I switched from film to digital. To learn more about and test some of my newer digital cameras I attended some fashion photo events. I want to work with more models on FTP/CD basis to increase my command of my equipment and just because its fun.
My favorite model Willow Pelot-Whitcomb who is my avatar pic may be contacted at:
http://www.willowwhitcomb.exploretalent … um=2665497San Francisco Bay Guardian, Cover Story "Shooting the Troubles, a photo essay on Northern Ireland" 1983
"Polk Gulch" exhibit Nanny Goat Hill Gallery 1982
"Shooting The Troubles" Eye Gallery 1983
"Polk Gulch" Photo Book Published 2008
"Going Home to Little Dixie" photo book published 2007
"This book is dedicated to Pat Carey, distinguished artist, activist and once owner of The Nanny Goat Art Gallery on Bush Street.
She was a tireless Mother Teresa to the runaway teens who inhabited Polk Gulch in the 1980's (some of whom are pictured in this book), which ultimately led to the establishment of San Francisco's Larkin Street Youth Center."
Before the Castro District in San Francisco California achieved fame as a gay playground, Polk Gulch, the area of Polk Street between California Street and Geary was known for its gay bars, raucous Halloween parades. elegant Shops, restaurants and sadly the young male prostitutes and drug addicts. The neighborhood was also home to a large number of elderly, minorities, and a small colony of former North Beach bohemians.
This book is a photographic record of Polk Gulch as it was in 1980.
Johnny Lee Ray, San Francisco Bay Guardian Arts and Entertainment editor says......
"...a rave for Blaine Dixon's Polk Gulch...", "Blaine's black-and-white eye is a West Coast counterpart to the Times Square views of Larry Clark and Gary Lee Boas,.. "the book's final contemporary color section is packed with wise irony.", "Polk Gulch proves small publishing is still spirited, intelligent, and surprising."
Roberto Friedman, Arts Editor of San Francisco's Bay Area Reporter, says, " 'Polk Gulch' a collection of photographs by Blaine Dixon, is a look into a time and place...Polk Street circa 1980...the vintage storefronts and the habitués who loitered there are presented in glorious black and white."
Donn Saylor, theater writer for the Boston Examiner, critic for The Edge and owner of snark.com says...
"There are some intensely emotional pieces of work here, mesmerizing freeze-frame commentaries on society, art, and sexuality."
Willow
