At the end of March I saw a social media post from Beck Senf , the Norton Family Curator of Photography for the Phoenix Art Museum, about the Ansel Adams “Performing the Print” exhibition at the Phoenix Art Museum. She encouraged people to see the exhibition and said it was coming to an end soon. Because of this I got in the truck and headed East on the 10 freeway, from California, to check it out. Okay, I better give a disclaimer here, we were already heading out to see some Cactus League games but I still made a point to get over to the Phoenix Art Museum to see the exhibition after seeing her reminder.
I remember well seeing an exhibition of Ansel Adams prints at the Friends of Photography in San Francisco years ago and being so intrigued by his different printing styles over time. Seeing his prints in person is always a great reminder of what a good print should look like. I don’t recall if the Friends of Photography had as much text explanation next to the prints as they included in the Phoenix exhibition. I thought the accompanying text at the Phoenix Art Museum exhibition was outstanding. It clearly and concisely described how the prints differed and it was written in a way that everyone could learn something from it. From a casual museum patron to a photographer with darkroom expertise. Unfortunately, the exhibition closed earlier this month and had been interrupted by the pandemic lockdown, but luckily I was able to see it and share the experience here.
There are better resources than me regarding the differences in Adam’s printing styles so I think it is best to just show a few photographs of the exhibition here to highlight what the exhibition was like.
The Phoenix Art Museum is itself a work of art, one of the best museum spaces I have ever seen. I would go there to see the building even if there weren’t any exhibitions up, the design and space is just that interesting. Below are a few examples of the space. Plus, you have to love any museum that has Wayne Thiebaud’s paintings in their collection. If you live in Phoenix join the museum and if you are just visiting make sure to get over to see the Phoenix Art Museum, you will not be disappointed.
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