Farnsworth Art Museum + the new Porter…
I do like to be thrilled about something. And I’m thrilled about this:
In August, the Friends of the Farnsworth Collection of the Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, a group formed to donate to a purchase fund and then decide which piece(s) to purchase, selected a simply amazing image by Eliot Porter – “Maine Forest”. Why is it “amazing”? Several reasons:
It is a stunningly gorgeous photograph.
It was taken in 1958 of the woods right outside the photographer’s home in Great Spruce Head Island, Maine.
At the artist’s request in 1973, Ansel Adams made a print of Porter’s 4×5 negative.
THAT PRINT IS 51 X 40.5 INCHES. Let me repeat that: In 1973 Ansel Adams made a print of Eliot Porter’s 1958 “Maine Forest” negative and that print is 51 x 40.5 inches.
And where is that remarkable print? On view, right now, at the Farnsworth Art Museum. I just found out about it by reading the Farnsworth’s Winter 2010 news magazine and I’ve got to say it was a swooning moment when I saw the image reproduced on p. 17!
Please remember back to 1973: as the magazine says, “[the] large-scale print of the image…is a remarkable technical achievement.” This is not 2010 when 1) every photographer is addicted to BIG prints whether or not their work is supported well by BIG prints, and 2) this BIG print was made in the darkroom. Remember those? Porter had the right instinct on this baby – this image is a stunner as a BIG image.
Well, due to the Museum’s cautious approach to intellectual property copyright concerns, I couldn’t get a reproducible jpg from them to share with you. And I’m glad, because this is one photograph that HAS to be seen to be loved.
So work in a nice trip to Rockland, take in the Museum’s other exhibitions from their permanent collection (finally we get to see some of this buried treasure!): The State of Printmaking since 1940 and Real and Abstract – Contemporary Art from the Farnsworth, and enjoy the city’s vibrant main drag. See you on Saturday!
