With works that date back to the very beginnings of photography in the 19th century, others that are very much of the 21st century, and a strong selection from the 20th as well, the photography collection at Scripps College, has much to offer. Celebrating the establishment of the College’s collection and showing works never before displayed at the College, the Williamson Gallery presents “Focus on Photography: Building a Photography Collection at Scripps,” which runs from Oct. 26 through Dec.15. On view will be visual treasures, with works on display by renowned photographers such as Ansel Adams, Diane Arbus, Julia Margaret Cameron, Gregory Crewdson, Graciela Iturbide, and Edward Weston.
The exhibition features a wide range of techniques that highlight photography’s intersection of art and technology, including 1850s salt-print images of the Crimean War by Roger Fenton; albumen-print portraits of Victorian luminaries from the 1860s by Julia Margaret Cameron; and gelatin silver prints of the Sierra Nevada by Ansel Adams
Opening day will feature a panel discussion among collectors who helped build the collection. Moderating the panel will be Weston Naef, Curator Emeritus, J. Paul Getty Museum. That event will take place in the Humanities Auditorium on the Scripps College campus, Oct. 26 from 4 to 5 p.m. Live music and light refreshments follow at the gallery from 7 to 9 p.m. The events are free of charge and open to the public.
The exhibition, which features fine books as well as photographs, includes donations by Virginia Adams; C. Jane Hurley Wilson and Michael G. Wilson; Sharon and Michael Blasgen; and Carol Vernon and Robert Turbin. “We thank these donors who have made the Scripps photography collection into such a rich resource for teaching students,” says Mary MacNaughton, director of the Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery.
A beautifully illustrated catalog accompanies the exhibition.
The Ruth Chandler Williamson Gallery is located at Eleventh Street and Columbia Avenue. During exhibitions, the gallery is open to the public, free of charge, Wednesday through Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact the gallery at (909) 607-3397 or visit the website at rcwg.scrippscollege.edu.