Thursday, April 7, 2011

MOMA


While in NYC, we visited the Museum of Modern Art, & in particular, the exhibition 


This impressive collection includes 200 works by 120 artists.  It offers an overview of photography's history, from its earliest inception to present day, through the lens of female photographers.


Except for, what seemed to me, to be some glaring omissions, the show does a superb job of portraying the evolution, 
of this relatively modern art form.


Simply but elegantly hung, the exhibit begins with early works dating from 1850, featuring soft focused portraits by
Julia Margaret Cameron & other female pioneers of the medium.


With so many artists represented it would be impossible to name them all here, but I will highlight just a few of my favorites.


It is certainly hard not to stand in awe, when in front of the iconic photographs of Dorothea Lange, each of her images as beautiful, as they are telling.


I would have liked to have seen just a few more photos by the Mexican artists, Tina Modotti, whose work I have always admired.


On the other hand, I was not familiar with the work of  
Helen Levitt, whose gritty New York street scenes, I immediately fell in love with.


Nan Goldin is another favorite, who has a Massachusetts  connection, having grown up in Lexington & attended the Boston Museum School.

The exhibit remains up only until April 18, so if you are in the NY area & have not already seen it, I highly recommend a trip to MoMA to check it out ASAP.

11 comments:

  1. Another interesting post Sally.I'd love to have seen this one.......thanks for sharing.

    Happy weekend!

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  2. Hello,Sally.
    Thank you for telling us about the beautiful photographers of women. So lovely!
    Julia Margaret Cameron, Dorothea Lange, Tina Moddoti,Helen levitt, Nan Goldin. They will be in my book-mark.I am very glad to know them.
    Have a nice weekend,and stay warm!
    Tomoko.

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  3. very interesting post, Sally! happy Friday

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  4. I haven't been to the MOMA in about 15 years. I do love it there. This looks like it was a great exhibit - I'm glad you were able to catch it! Happy weekend, Sally!

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  5. Cheers to all the woman artists!
    I can really spend hours in MOMA~

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  6. I had to go back and look to see if this was photos of women or by women. Mostly it looked like both. Compelling.
    Thanks for visiting my blog and I just want to let you know that I'm incredibly jealous of your life. Someday I'm going to say I split my time writing between my studio in the U.S. and a quaint home in the South of France! It will happen.

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  7. This really was a great show. I wish each of you could have seen it.
    Paulita, you make a good point. The review in the NY Times made mention of the fact that women photographers tend to photograph other women, often mothers & children or other domestic scenes, as well as images that invoke compassion.
    Thanks everyone for stoping by.

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  8. Glad you enjoyed your NY trip Sally. I'd love to go. Thanks for your lovely compliment as always for my new lino print :)

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  9. Sounds like it was an evocative exhibit...love the one of all the sombreros walking!

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  10. Wow wow and wow! What an incredible exhibition that must be, and how proud women viewers must feel after they walk out of it. I have never actually been to MOMA, sadly. One for the top of the list!
    Thank you too for your lovely words regarding my work. :)

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  11. Thanks for showing me a couple of images I hadn't had the chance to see! Julia Morgan Cameron and Tina Modotti are new good finds. I had a chance to spend a ton of time with a Helen Levitt exhibit. Her ability to capture everyday folks on the street was stunning, poetic,and important in our ever changing world!

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