Joe Reifer

Photo by Mike Hows

Big M Automotive: Classic Cars Under the Moonlight
Photography by Mike Hows, Troy Paiva, and Joe Reifer
Lucky Juju Pinball Art Gallery
September 4 – September 30, 2009
Opening Friday September 4th from 7-10 p.m.

Big M Automotive is a classic car dismantling yard in Williams, CA that specializes in 1950′s Mercurys. The yard is also packed with big finned Chryslers, DeSotos, Dodges and rare late ‘50s GM cars.

In 2008, night photographer Mike Hows approached the owner of Big M about shooting this amazing collection of Detroit Iron. Hows has been photographing Big M for over a year, and invited photographers Troy Paiva and Joe Reifer to join him on subsequent trips.

Hows, Paiva, and Reifer are specialists in photographing at night. Shooting within a few days of the full moon, the exposure times for their images typically range between 3-10 minutes. The images are often augmented through surreal light painting techniques, where a hand-held flash or flashlight is used to add light to the scene during the exposure.

Hows and Paiva utilize colored gel material over their lights to create bold, otherworldly colors in their images. Reifer takes a more documentary approach, favoring a warm natural glow. Each artist brings his own unique style and lighting techniques to the images of these amazing cars.

About the Photographers
A Bay Area native, photographer Mike Hows focuses on capturing the past in a new light. See more of Mike’s work: www.takenpictures.com

Night Photographer and light painter Troy Paiva has been shooting abandonments and junkyards since 1989. His site, www.lostamerica.com and his books Lost America and Night Vision have struck a chord in post-industrial cultures world-wide.

Joe Reifer photographs abandoned places at night, and suburban neighborhoods by day. Witness his adventures online: www.joereifer.com

Lucky Ju Ju
713 Santa Clara Ave Alameda, CA [Map]
Friday and Saturday: 6 p.m. to Midnight
Sunday: 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
www.ujuju.com

Please Note: The Bay Bridge will be closed over Labor Day weekend. San Francisco residents will need to either drive over Highway 92, or take BART to 12th St/Oakland and hop on the AC Transit 51 which drops you off right next to Lucky Ju Ju at Webster and Santa Clara (10 minute ride, $2).

Press Contact
Joe Reifer

The Gallery

The Lucky Ju Ju Pinball Gallery is a unique underground arena for vintage pinball machines and a showcase for artists. We are in our seventh year and this is the 57th art show presented since the opening of the “Trans –View” gallery. This art show is free but we request you pay admission to the pinball arcadium where you can enjoy our amazing assortment of games all on freeplay. Since it is well hidden and many are not adept with map quest, here are directions: Come to Alameda via the Alameda Tube (Webster St/Oakland) and continue on Webster. After 4 signal lights, turn left onto Santa Clara. Take the first Left into the parking lot; we are in the door that opens into the lot. Although the Pinball Arcadium is open on Friday, Saturday & Sunday nights, the Gallery, in the foyer, is always viewable from 9am to 9pm daily. The Pacific Pinball Museum is a 501 c 3 non profit.

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