J D Dragan Thumbnails Statement Since adolescence I have been fascinated by the quiescence of men in photographs. During my liberal undergraduate education in the mid 1970’s, I shot my first male nude pictures. Since those formative years, my passion for this subject has grown fostered by completing continuing studies in photography at the Ringling School of Art and Design with honors. My photographs are powerful images capturing the male physique with a formalist appreciation for muscular sculptural magnificence. I use this visual power to instill intrinsic value in my male nudes. The intimate relationship between the viewer and the men in my pictures is revealed through the medium of silver gelatin photography. The medium fosters purity stripped of distraction. It allows the spectator to gaze upon the piece, appreciating value, shadow, and light in an interpretively superior manner. Photography permits me to seek the moment in time where the mood of the man in the image is frozen for my esthetic examination. I endeavor to capture the elemental nature of each individual, his might, his essence, and his uniqueness. Whether the image is classically reminiscent of another era or brashly modern in execution, I want the viewer to gain entry into what lies behind the eyes of the man. While displaying the virility of each man’s form, musculature, and attitude, the soul’s intelligence is uncovered. I continue to define my subjects as I focus on men of color. My ongoing challenge is to capture a male nude in a fashion that is not objectified. While negating a homogenized characterization, a gestural sense of composition shows these men to be whole people, complex, masculine, able, and contemporary. In some instances, social symbolism and visual commentary act as an adjunct to the men in my images. The portraits often speak louder than mere beauty. My work addresses present day issues from a variety of directions. Whether I show the purity of nudity, the union of man and nature, or point up dogmatic elements of society, the man remains the central focus of a picture where less is more. My hope is that my work can expose the vitality of all men, but most notably black men, without fear of social stigma or prejudice. I want my audience to feel the presence of these individuals in an open way, without fear, freeing the viewer to appreciate that, which simply makes a man an individual. Bio JD Dragan's silver gelatin photographic prints have been exhibited in solo and group exhibitions in galleries in California, Florida, and New York. Select galleries include the Leslie-Lohman Art Foundation in New York City, the Art Center Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida, Riches in New Hope, Pennsylvania and the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles, California. In addition, his work is in private and public collections including the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles, California, the David Aden Gallery in Venice Beach, California, and the Leslie-Lohman Art Foundation in New York City. In 2001, Mr. Dragan received an Honorable Mention for one of his works presented to a juried show at the Art Center Sarasota. JD Dragan was born in Hamilton, New Jersey in 1952. Being liberally educated, he received a B.A. degree in Biology from Saint Michaels College in Winooski, Vermont. His continuing studies in photography at the Ringling School of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida were accomplished with honors. Selected Exhibitions (*Solo Shows) 2005 13th Annual Black History Exhibition, Art Association of Harrisburg, sponsored by Harrisburg City Council, Harrisburg, PA   *Bears Of All Colors II Solo Art Sale, Bear Café of New York City, New York, NY     2004 10th Annual L.A. Erotic Art Weekend, Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles, CA   2nd Invitational GMSMA Erotic Art Show, GMSMA, New York, NY   ILLUMINATIONS (Two Man Show), Bridges Gallery - Fine Art Photography, Harrisburg, PA   4th Annual New York City Erotic Art Weekend, Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles, CA     2003 Erotic Art Fair, Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles, CA   Riches, New Hope, PA   4th Annual Erotic Art Weekend, Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles, CA   *One Man, Art Center Sarasota, Sarasota, FL     2001 Ray and Beverly Broth Annual Photography Show, Art Center Sarasota, Sarasota, FL     2000 Spring Annual, Leslie-Lohman Art Gallery, New York City, NY, Juried Show     1999 Spring Annual, Leslie-Lohman Art Gallery, New York City, NY, Juried Show Public Collections The Museum of the African Diaspora, San Francisco, CA Bridges Gallery, Harrisburg, PA The Center for Fine Art Photography at The Museum of Contemporary Art, Fort Collins, CO David Springle, David Aden Gallery, Venice Beach, CA Leslie-Lohman Art Foundation, New York City, NY The Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles, CA Commercial Representation Licensing of Photographs, Village Lighthouse, Inc., Variety of paper products distributed through multiple brands including: 10% Consumer Products, Provocateur, Alluvial Filmworks, Greenwood Cooper Homevideo, and Village Lighthouse Consumer Products, Los Angeles, CA; 2004 Packaging Label, Ilford Private Brand 11”x14” Fiber Photo Paper, Nationally distributed through the Darkroom Studios, Mechantville, NJ; 2004 Bibliography (*Reviews) Katherine Ware, juror; JD Dragan photo “Perfect Symmetry – Past”, Colloidal Silver Gelatin Fusion The Photo Review, Philadlelphia, PA, Volume 27, Issue 2, 2004 Dispatch E-news, JD Dragan photo “¿Created Equal?”, “Foundation in the News,” Tom of Finland Foundation, Los Angeles, June 2004 edition *Nicholas Boston, “Tom’s Legacy Legitimizes Erotica,” Gay City News, New York, NY, Volume 3, Issue 322, p. 37, May 27 – June 2, 2004  “The Male in Camera,” Pelican Press, Sarasota, FL, January 9, 2003 *Natasha Gerhart, “Exhibits photographically eulogize people, places,” Sarasota Herald Tribune, January 3, 2003 *Tim Cameresi, “One Man Comes Home,” South West Florida Business Guild, Sarasota, FL, December 2002 issue Awards and Honors Best of Show, 13th Annual Black History Exhibition, Art Association of Harrisburg, sponsored by Harrisburg City Council, Harrisburg, PA, Juried 2005 5 Star Goodwill Gold Award, The Bi Men Network, Los Angeles, CA, Labor Day, 06.Sep.2004 Honorable Mention, Ray and Beverly Broth Annual Photography Show, Art Center Sarasota, Sarasota, FL, Juried 2001 Education Saint Michael’s College, Winooski, VT, B.A., 1976 Photography Department, Ringling School of Art and Design, Continuing Studies, Sarasota, FL, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001

JD Dragan 340 North 12th Street Unit #706 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107 267.252.8511 jddragan@jddragan.com Born: Hamilton, New Jersey, 1952