Photographics

Gee, Calendar, what a hell of a way to greet the New Year--with an article about good old J.P. Witkin (“Joel-Peter Witkin: Peering Over the Abyss,” by Kristine McKenna, Jan. 1).

Yes, folks, here he is: The man who manipulates and mutilates human and animal cadavers for use as props in his “art” (see American Photographer magazine, 1986, for info about this). I guess we should be heartened by the news that he’s now using living (and volunteering) models.

I’m not surprised that he wears a mask in photos. I mean anyone whose work is so obviously “about human dignity, caring and compassion” would want to conceal their identity. Otherwise, the Nobel Prize committee and all those humanitarian organizations would hound him to death with nominations.

What a crock, Calendar, what a bloody crock!

ELIZABETH A. STEVENS

S. Pasadena