Barbara Pollack Photographs: The Subject Reflects: Robert Marshall interviews Max Berger

Barbara Pollack is a visual artist who has had solo exhibitions at the Holly Solomon Gallery, Esso Gallery, and Trans in New York City. Her work is included in the collections of the New York Public Library, the Guggenheim Museum, and the Brooklyn Museum of Art. Pollack's Dance Party, a series of photographs taken at her son Max Berger's junior high school dances, was exhibited at Esso Gallery from September 12, 2001 through November 24, 2001. In this project, she builds on her earlier The Family of Men in which, using images of her husband and Max, Pollack re-created Edward Steichen's famous Family of Man. Robert Marshall was curious to learn what Max, who was then thirteen, thought of his mother's photographs; one afternoon in August, before the opening at Esso, Marshall sat with Max in Pollack's bedroom. Color photocopies of the pictures in the show were spread around them on the floor. Marshall, a visual artist, fiction writer, and critic, lives in New York City. His work has appeared in recent shows at the Contemporary Arts Center in New Orleans and in New York at the Richard Anderson Gallery and the Thread Waxing Space. He has recently completed his first novel.

ROBERT MARSHALL: Tell me about the first time your mom took pictures at a dance.

MAX BERGER: I was sort of shocked. I saw this lady with a Polaroid camera and I thought, "Oh, my mom uses a Polaroid." So I was wondering who was taking the pictures. She said hi to me. I couldn't recognize her at first. Then I was like "Mom! What are you doing here?" I was so confused. I thought: this is so weird. She said, "Well I'm thinking of this idea for my next show." So I guess that's how Dance Party began. I sort of felt uncomfortable about it. But then when she started taking more pictures I began to get used to it. I understood it more. And after the first roll came out, I said, "Wow this is really good. You should continue doing this." She said, "Really, I didn't know what you would think."

Do you think she thought you didn't want her to do it?

It probably ran across her mind. But she loves to invade my life and take lots of pictures. I've been able to get used to it.

She's been doing this your whole life?

Pretty much.

I want to ask about The Family of Men. How do you feel when you see yourself in these two different projects?

I like Dance Party more. It's more about me and my friends. The Family of Men was really weird and blurry. It happened for a long time. She started doing it when I was one.

That was like your whole life.

Yeah. I just like this one more because it's more interactive and I understand what's going on.

Do you feel you're more of a collaborator? More a part of it?

I like being less of a part of it. I like being a part of it but being just a part of it. Except for the fact that I'm her son, I'm just as much a part of it as every one else. I'm in three pictures.

Do you wish you were in more?

I like the amount I'm in. It doesn't make me seem too specific.

How do people in the class react to her taking the pictures?

They really enjoy pictures being taken of them. Being a part of something.

Have they seen the actual photographs?

Most haven't. Some of my friends have.

What did they think?

They thought they looked really good.

Tell me about this picture [Dance Party #2].

It looks...