2023
across san diego County + tijuana
A hybrid year with 13 artist talks, three film screenings, four in-person workshops, two publishing panels, and six exhibitions at locations across San Diego and Tijuana.
We took a big leap in 2023, experimenting with a new festival format and welcoming a global community of artists from the Navajo Nation to New Zealand, with the Medium Review welcoming attendees from Tokyo to Latvia and across North America. The 2023 Keynote conversation with Judith Joy Ross and Joshua Chuang was hosted at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego, with Anh-Thuy Nguyen recognized as the Second Sight Award recipient. Debi Cornwall brought an in-person only film screening, and the feature film GRAIN was screened at Digital Gym Cinema. Bread & Salt hosted a day long photography pop-up with the Paris Photo / Aperture PhotoBook Awards exhibition, free coffee from GEM Coffee and photo-inspired music by DJ Lola Rey. San Diego Mesa College hosted the 2023 Size Matters exhibition, and San Diego City College hosted artist talks and workshops. The list of presenters includes: Riley Arthur, Twinkle Banerjee, Joshua Chuang, Annie Claflin, Debi Cornwall, David Freese, Will Gibson, Jill Marie Holslin, Jetsonorama, Justin Maxon, Alan Nakkash, Asli Narin, Anh-Thuy Nguyen, Robin North, Oriana Poindexter, Judith Joy Ross, Leah Sobsey, Kim Stringfellow, Jason Tannen, Bea Trouble, and Marshall Williams.
2022
san diego + tijuana
A return to in-person programming with five artist talks, two workshops, portfolio reviews, and live streaming of our content.
2022. A breath of fresh air filled with new faces and dear friends. Lyle Ashton Harris presented a keynote lecture to remember, with additional talks by Amanda Marchand, Larry McNeil, Don Bartletti, and Michelle Dunn Marsh. Debra Klomp Ching presented a workshop helping us navigate the world of gallery relationships, and seminars by Freestyle Photo opened the doors to new opportunities in fine printing.
2021
San diego, California
Five artist lectures, two curator-led conversations, portfolio reviews, two exhibitions, and our first virtual Festival.
2021 was a year unlike any other as we welcomed live Festival guests from the United States, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, and the United Kingdom. Our Northern Exposure program welcomed five artists from Mexico, with artists attending from across North America. Our keynote lecture was presented by Catherine Opie, with additional lectures by Farrah Karapetian, Paul Mpagi Sepuya, Abdul Aziz, our Second Sight Award recipient Fatemeh Baigmoradi, and a conversation with Han Nguyen and HereIn Journal. We held outdoor, socially-distanced broadcasts of the Keynote Lecture, hosted a street level exhibition of participating Portfolio Review photographers work at Art Produce, and a live, outdoor installation by Philipp Scholz Rittermann (in conversation with Kevin Miller). The photographs in 2021 were shot by Evan McGinnis, Marv Sloben, and Philipp Scholz Rittermann.
2019
San diego, California + Tijuana, mexico
Six artist lectures, portfolio reviews, two exhibitions, and an international bus trip.
2019 marked Medium Photo as a true bi-national photography festival. Our Northern Exposure program welcomed five artists from Mexico, with artists attending from across North America. Our keynote lecture was presented by Luis González Palma, with additional lectures by Louie Palu, Christina Fernandez, Sant Khlasa, Meghann Riepenhoff, and our Second Sight Award recipient Mariel Miranda. The photographs in 2019 were shot by our team of talented photographers including Laura Arango, Scott Bennett, David Brooks, Celeste Covarrubias, Liliana Hueso, Javier Jauregui, Evan McGinnis, and Gabriela Walther.
2018
San diego, California + Tijuana, mexico
Six artist lectures, portfolio reviews, four exhibitions, studio tours, and an international bus trip.
2018 was the year we went international. In addition to bringing artists from northern Mexico to Medium, we brought artists and curators from the U.S. to Mexico. Our keynote lecture by John Divola was followed by lectures by Mariela Sancari, Martina Shenal, Brandon Thibodeaux, John Brinton Hogan, and our Second Sight Award recipient Robert Calafiore. The photographs from 2018 were shot by the amazing talent of photographers including David Brooks, Antoine Didienne, Caleb Johansen, and Hilary Morefield.
2017
SAN DIEGO + RANCHO SANTA FE, CALIFORNIA
Six artist lectures, portfolio reviews, two exhibitions, private collection tours, and exhibition visits across the city.
In 2017 we worked with the SDSU Downtown Gallery and the Central Library to host two exhibitions made in collaboration with Medium’s programming. Our keynote lecture by John Gossage was followed by lectures from Claudia Kunin, John Chiara, Christina Seely, J. Grant Brittain, and our Second Sight Award recipient Justyna Badach. The photographs from 2017 were shot by the amazing talent of photographers including Lisa Kimberly, Stacy Keck, Evan McGinnis, Hilary Morefield, and Jens Ochlich.
2016
SAN DIEGo, CALIFORNIA
Eight artist lectures, portfolio reviews, cameras made from skulls, Open Show, and a round table discussion on collecting photography.
In 2016 we hosted 8 lecturers, our second Size Matters exhibition at Low Gallery, and screened a film with the Media Arts Center. Our keynote lecture was given by Penelope Umbrico, with additional lectures by Wayne Martin Belger, Vincent Cianni, Matt Eich, Patrick Nagatani, Susan Rankaitis, Marisa Scheinfeld, and our Second Sight Award recipient Leonard Suryajaya. The photographs from 2016 were shot by an awesome pool of talented photographers including Brianna Bearce, Elisa DeCristo, Stacy Keck, and Mobin Maalirad.
2015
SAN DIEGo, CALIFORNIA
Eight artist lectures, a film screening, two roundtable discussions, portfolio reviews, and our first juried exhibition.
In 2015 we presented 8 lecturers, launched our Size Matters exhibition at Low Gallery, hosted a book signing by Aline Smithson, and the 2015 fall book launch for Daylight Books. Our keynote lecture was given by Jim Goldberg, with additional lectures by Eric William Carroll, Binh Dahn, Robbert Flick, Drew Nikonowicz, Rachel Phillips, Bryan Schutmaat, and our Second Sight Award recipient Ellen Garvens. The photographs from 2015 were shot by some remarkable photographers including Rebecca Goldschmidt, Stacy Keck, Soomin Park, and Brandy Sebastian.
2014
SAN DIEGo, CALIFORNIA
Nine artist lectures, two professional seminars, a roundtable discussion, portfolio reviews, and two book signings.
In 2014 we hosted 9 lecturers, a book signings with three lecturing artists, and a partnership with APA and Open Show Los Angeles. Our keynote lecture was given by Duane Michals, with additional lectures by Virginia Beahan, Matt Black, Jess T. Dugan, Chris Engman, Soo Kim, Joni Sternbach, and our Second Sight Award recipient Kurt Simonson. We hosted two professional development seminars led by Chantel Paul and Mary Virginia Swanson. The photographs from 2014 were shot by five superb photographers including Ashley Davis, Carlos Galvan, Stacy Keck, Nora Sanchez, and Francesca Tirpak.
2013
SAN DIEGo, CALIFORNIA
Eight artist lectures, one professional seminar, portfolio reviews, and two book signings.
In 2013 we hosted 8 lecturers, a book signings with three lecturing artists, and a partnership with APA and Open Show Los Angeles. Our keynote lecture was given by Abelardo Morell, with additional lectures by Stephen Berkman, Jonathan Blaustein, Michael Lundgren, Meg Partridge, Doug Rickard, Kim Stringfellow, and our inaugural Second Sight Award recipient David Emitt Adams. We hosted a professional development seminar led by Andy Adams, an outdoor exhibition, and an after-party with the legendary Henry Diltz. The photographs from 2013 were all captured by three amazing photographers Nicole Espina, Eric Platt, and Stacy Keck.
2012
SAN DIEGo, CALIFORNIA
Ten artist lectures, four professional development seminars, a film screening, a half-day portfolio review, and a closing party with DJ Keith Sweaty.
2012 is when Medium began—driven by the belief that when artists congregate good things happen. That year we hosted 10 lectures, professional seminars, after parties, and hands on demonstrations by photographers for photographers. Our keynote lecture was given by Alec Soth, with additional lectures by Susan Burnstine, Henry Diltz, Noah Doely, Tim Mantoani, Chris McCaw, Lisa M. Robinson, Ken Rosenthal, Philipp Scholz Rittermann, and David Taylor. We hosted two hands-on printing demonstrations with Jen Jansen and scott b. davis, a sunburn demonstration by Chris McCaw, two workshops by Mary Virginia Swanson, one workshop by Aline Smithson, and a legal advice for photographers seminar by Leslie Burns. JDC Fine Art hosted a screening of the Alec Soth film Somewhere to Disappear. The photographs from 2012 were captured by three courageous photographers who gave their time to shoot an event nobody had ever heard of. They include Adam Ghahate, Sam Hodgson, and Alyssa Lucca. We’re so grateful they helped us capture the start of something incredible!
