RIMSHOTS!
A Review by David Vestal
RIMSHOTS! Photographs by James R. Dean afterword by Mark Strand; published by James R. Dean, 1997; 64 pages. 8x10 1/4 inches (horizontal),56 b/w photographs, paperbound; $l9.95 for the book; $125.00 for the book plus an 8x10 fiberbase print of its cover photo.

The theme behind the title is what Dean calls "That beloved backyard icon, the basketball hoop." He is more exact than I about the number of photos—I just counted the ones printed large. He lists 55 photos of hoops, six of friends and relatives and one of me.

"This is not one of those solemn books calculated to pump up the photographer's pretensions to art which helps me to like it in spite of my total and lifelong lack of interest in basketball, baseball, football, etc. I have never been able to fathom how anyone could want to watch or play them. Never mind, plenty of people love these sports, and that's all right with me. I see this as their problem, not mine.

Photos do often interest me, and I find these sympathetic, largely for the plain, clear way they show the houses, yards, streets, fields and so on of the Amencan midwest as they now exist. These places have a style of their own, of which I suspect most people who live there are unconscious. For them, I imagine, it's just how things are.

James Dean, I think, has a sharp sense of that style, and he enjoys it. It is special in about the same way Atget's Paris Is special, different of course, and not exotic to us. To me it looks as if that's what these photos are really about They convey a clear sense of midwest plain, which is as close as I get to naming this style that doesn't know it's a style. If it ever got selfconscious, that could be a disaster; as it is, it's a pleasure and commands respect. It is for real. People have made it to suit themselves without worrying about what anyone will think.

The presentation is appropriately plain. Each picture is more or less centered on a page and there are two photos per spread with few exceptions. The pairs are generally chosen to agree with each other in form and content, and some pairs complement each other well enough so they get stronger for me as I see them again and again. Others get along reasonably well together, and it's enough—they coexist wlthout conflict

Each photo has a minimal caption: where, when, and the negative number (for instance, on p. 19, "Avon, MN • April 22, 1995 • #95-23-4A"). This identifies the picture positively and tells us enough but not too much. I'm not sure we need the negatlve number, but it does no harm and could be useful. I'm always glad to see that a photographer has a filing system. This often matters more than tears, smiles. romance, and graphic or designy design. That is, sometimes it really helps.

For me the exclamation point in the title seems wrong, but the pictures form a coherent and truthful portrait of places in America that are worth seeing clearly, and they do it without fuss. Without being wild about the book, I like it, enjoy it, and feel that it's genuine.

It's also a study in comparative engineering. Some of these hoop units are flimsy; others seem destined for heavy-duty stresses that will never come. Or the very least this tells us something about the people who made them. It looks as if individuality survives even within conformity.

Dean sent a promotion piece and order form before he sent the book: that's how I know the price. More information: "Send your order and check to: James R. Dean, 17010 Norman Road, Avon, MN 56310." (320) 356-9267. There's a $3 postage charge per book, and MN residents should add 61/2% sales tax.

Reprinted by permission from GRUMP 53

published informally and occasionally by David Vestal
PO Box 309
Bethlehem CT 06751-0309
fifty-third issue, July 1997
$30 for six issues

copyright © 1997 by David Vestal
ISSN 1078-1897

Pictures from RIMSHOTS!
Order RIMSHOTS!
Email James R. Dean at JDean56310@aol.com

All photographs © James R. Dean.
No reproductions of any kind may be made without the photographer's written permission.

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