WHITNEY - PART I

Went to the Whitney Museum of American Art this weekend and caught two excellent exhibitions.

William Eggleston - Democratic Camera Photographs and Video: 1964-2008

As a pioneer of color photography, he is said to be one of the most influential photographers of our time. He is credited for raising the discipline to the rank of a major art and responsible for popularizing an aesthetic that was inspired by the everyday, the ordinary, and the mundane mostly of the South. Eggleston typically developed the pictures himself using a dye transfer printing process (pre photoshop and digital technology) that allowed him to manipulate and enhance certain colors to give them a distinctive saturated quality.

It's amazing how much of his aesthetic has been adopted by popular culture. His influence can really be seen everywhere especially in the art, print, and film worlds.



(via whitney website) This candid interview with photographer William Eggleston was conducted by film director Michael Almereyda on the occasion of the opening of Eggleston's retrospective William Eggleston: Democratic Camera, Photographs and Video, 1961-2008 at the Whitney Museum of American Art. A key figure in American photography, Eggleston is credited almost single-handedly with ushering in the era of color photography. Eggleston discusses his shift from black and white to color photography in this video as, "it never was a conscious thing. I had wanted to see a lot of things in color because the world is in color". Also included in this video are Eggleston's remarks about his personal relationships with the subjects of many of his photographs.



Winston Eggleston speaks about his father:
(via whitney website) During the interview, Winston provided a window into his father's life and background: he loves guns, but does not hunt; likes stamps, likes old rugs, and loves Bach. Most importantly Winston was able to impart the feeling of being along side his father while he photographed. He provides us with a context for each image and expresses an adoration of the photographs as only a son can.


The other exhibition was Alexander Calder - The Paris Years: 1926-1933, possibly more inspiring than Eggleston retrospective. Will post more at later time. click on link above if you can't wait.