Anonymous Photography Part 5
Featuring a continuous slide presentation of vintage transparencies

Driskel Vintage Photography

August 29 - September 24, 2003

Opening Reception: Friday, August 29, 7-10 p.m.

Driskel Vintage Photography at the Schoolhouse Center for Art and Design in Provincetown, MA, presents another annual installment of its immensely popular Anonymous Photography exhibition. Begun in 1999 as a response to the growing interest of the public, art galleries and institutions in vernacular photographic images, the first show was practically an instant sellout, with buyers vying for a favorite snapshot or old news photograph.

Returning again and again to see the show, some viewers had the new experience of being involved in the "discovery" process, easily relating to some of the familiar - looking offbeat snapshots and oddball studio pictures. Recognizing similarities with old photos stashed in the attic, some enthusiasts began to dig around in their own forgotten albums , searching for treasure. Some of the neatly matted and framed anonymous images were also seen to resemble great artwork, a favorite Diane Arbus photograph, for instance , or a romantic portrait by Julia Margeret Cameron.

In addition to the usual sources of anonymous photographs----snapshot albums, photo studios, photobooths, medical, news, crime, and scientific archives---this year’s exhibit features a continuous slide show of vintage slide transparencies from the 1940s , 50s and 60s. A growing interest in this mountain of images that is still stashed away in the slide files , boxes, and Kodak carousels of America is apparent from recent publications on the subject. The brisk trade in old color slides on Ebay and in the flea markets, and the quiet discussions among curators as how best to display such photographica are evidence that--- something is up !

 

 

 

The Schoolhouse Center for Art and Design
494 Commercial Street, Provincetown, MA 02657
(508) 487-4800
lcollins@schoolhousecenter.com
Contact: Larry Collins