This summer Light Work features a video installation, titled A Long Year, by Karl Baden, which documents his experience facing prostate cancer. On September 29, 2000, Baden went to his annual physical and was given a clean bill of health. His doctor said he was in great shape, and upon leaving the office Baden was told, "Whatever it is you’re doing, keep it up!"

One month later, Baden was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. He underwent six months of chemotherapy, and then surgery.

According to Baden, "A Long Year is a time-lapse film of my face during the period encompassing my diagnosis, treatment, and recovery." While these images appear on the screen, the viewer hears different conversations that took place over the year, from phone conversations and meetings with doctors discussing the diagnosis and the best way to treat the cancer, to Baden and his wife explaining the illness to their young daughter.

This film (which runs sixteen minutes and forty-seven seconds) is part of a larger project titled Every Day that Baden has been working on over the past eighteen years. On February 23, 1987, he began photographing his face. Since that date, he has taken one photo each day, using the same lighting, framing, backdrop, and film for each image. Baden has even refrained from drastically changing his hairstyle or facial hair. This way, the photos illustrate the natural process of aging. The images for A Long Year are taken directly from that collection of images.

Baden participated in Light Work’s Artist-in-Residence program and had an exhibition of self-portraits in the Light Work Gallery in 2000.

The gallery hours for this exhibition will be Monday-Friday, noon–6 pm, or by appointment. Light Work is a non-profit, artist-run organization dedicated to the support of artists working in photography and electronic media. The exhibition is free and open to the public. For more information or to set up an appointment, please contact Light Work at 443-1300.