January 14 through April 7, 2012
Organized by the George Eastman House International Museum of Photography and Film, Rochester, NY
The relationships between humans and the other animals on our planet are complex and profound. Why Look at Animals? examines the ways animals have been represented photographically over time, from the romantic pastoral images of P.H. Emerson, to the sardonic and edgy metaphors of John Heartfield, to the scientific documents of Eadweard Muybridge and Harold Edgerton. The exhibition showcases both familiar and unfamiliar selections from the George Eastman House collection and also explores the variety of ways in which photographs work, using images of animals to demonstrate taxonomy, formal aesthetic, humor, sentiment, and aide memoire.
Highlights of this survey exhibition include early zoo photographs by Count de Montizon, an Edward Steichen portrait of famed herpetologist Raymond Ditmars with snake, and a number of poignant images by Robert Doisneau. Contemporary images include Barbara Norfleet’s series Manscape With Beasts, John Divola’s Dogs Chasing My Car in the Desert, Richard Ross’s evocative treatment of natural history collections, and a beloved Weimaraner of William Wegman.
The exhibition is presented in sections that answer the question of the title: They Make Us Laugh; They Inhabit Our Dreams; They Complete Our Families; We Study Them; They Are Beautiful; They Are Valuable; and They Serve Us. A 24-page, 6 x 6 inch, color gallery guide will be available to visitors.
Sponsored by:
January 14 through April 7, 2012
“Migrations” brings together a collection of contemporary fine art prints from six Native American artists whose work, when combined, represents a wide spectrum of Native American cultures and experiences.
January 14 through April 7, 2012
Michael Sherwin, West Virginia University Photography Professor
Using YouTube as the only resource, Sherwin’s “It’s All Relative” features twenty-five different versions of a lunar eclipse, compiled together to give you a unique glimpse into this natural phenomenon of our universe.