Exhibiting is believing…URBAN SEEN at the Portland Museum of Art
I left the Portland Museum of Art grinning to myself last week. And feeling a little sheepish as well.
I had just viewed the URBAN SEEN exhibit on the second floor. Even being a photographs broker, it hadn’t occurred to me there would be photographs included in the exhibit. Hello, Heather??
Not only are they included, they make up almost 30% of the exhibit. We have arrived, people! I need to get with it and ASSUME everyone else is assuming that photographs are fine art worthy of inclusion in any appropriate exhibition!
First there is the cool 1921 video segment. It’s an excerpt from “Manhattan”, a film by Charles Sheeler and Paul Strand of all people. I said “WOW” as I studied Julee Holcombe’s image montage titled “Babel Revisited” (2003). In the same room is Elke Morris’ “Domicile 1″ (2004). I feel like I’ve seen that picture everywhere, but never lose my liking for it. John Dowell’s night image called “Portland II” (2005) is a beauty and makes me want to see more of his work.
Portland II,2005 © John Dowell. Used with permission of the Portland Museum of Art.
Keep counting: John P. Soule has created a good-sized piece showcasing stereo cards of the Great Fire in Portland – these are obviously dated 7/4/1866. On the other side of the spectrum is Scott Peterman’s “NY14D” (2008), hot off the press and as exquisite as only Scott’s work can be. A blurb of his winter NYC show was one of my first blog postings and quite frankly I would love to see a show of just his work one of these days.
I studied for a long time Todd Webb’s NYC scene from 1946 “6th Ave….”. It’s got to be 8′ long and I believe is several images stitched together. Loved it and will go back to study it more.
All in all there are 25 pieces in this show, 8 of which are photography. Spread the word. Better yet, make a visit to appreciate it yourself. Through August 17.
