Shawn Mortensen R.I.P.
I’m writing this from the road, but just want to get this out there. R.I.P. Shawn. Below is just a short description of my short experience meeting and hanging out with the man.
We hosted Shawn for an exhibition and talk here at Babylon Falling last December. To have Shawn come out to this tiny little bookstore and not only exhibit, but also give a talk, is testament to just how real he is. No cool guy shit at all. As a long-time fan of his photography, I was and still am so humbled to have hosted him here at the store.
After months of back and forth over logistics, we finally found a date that would work for both of us. Shit was crazy tight with Shawn flying in for the show and flying out the next morning. He walked in the store at 5pm the day of the exhibit with multiple poster tubes and photo boxes under his arms. The show was hung in time (thanks to Alex, Chris, and Kensey) and the talk he gave was full of hilarious anecdotes. He answered every question asked in a way that diverted attention from the celebrity aspect of his work, and he repeatedly underscored the importance of time spent as well as the primacy of relationships with his subjects.
After the talk he did a little book signing, taking the time to do a bubble throw up in each book he signed. It was a really dope opening reception, good vibes and good conversations.
He was staying at my and Kensey’s apartment and we hung out and bullshitted for a couple hours that night. We took him out to breakfast the next morning and over way too many cups of coffee Shawn had me and Kensey dying laughing with some of the funniest Jamaica stories I’ve ever heard. His generosity (with his time and his words) was not lost on me and the ease with which he was able to relate to us sincerely, without pretension and without the awkward formality that so often accompanies these type of interactions, is definitely a talent that few people have.
So I knew Shawn Mortensen only in passing but he made such an indelible impression on my life that I’m guessing for those that knew him well that isn’t a surprise. He’s not someone I’ll soon forget. R.I.P. homie. Condolensces to all family and close friends.
Here are a few pictures that Shaun Roberts took at the opening that I think capture the energy of the night. You can see more from the night on our events page as well.
Shawn, Emory Douglas, and me
We still have a big stack of signed copies of his 2007 book Out of Mind in the store. The book is a must have for even the casual fan of his photography. I’ll quote myself from a few months back talking about the significance of the book:
At a time in my life when learning how to roll a good spliff was my greatest accomplishment Shawn was in Chiapas, Mexico documenting the Zapatista uprising. Prolific and ever relevant, he has enjoyed a long career of consistent success with an uncanny ability for being in the right place at the right time, and is always positioned at the forefront of the culture. The result of 20 years of portraiture work, Out of Mind, is testament to the depth and breadth of his experience. When seen together, the seemingly unconnected portraits reveal themselves as equal parts of an ongoing commentary on our modern life. Kate Moss next to some Jamaican rudeboys, Paris Hilton beside Dr. Dre with a gun to his head…
A few of the tributes posted around the internet so far: