Ansel Adams, An American Perspective, Oklahoma City, OK, 15 Mar - Jun 1, 2014

The Oklahoma City Museum of Art is hosting Ansel Adams, An American Perspective, March 15- Jun 1,2014. I visited today and the museum was filled with school age children who saw exhibted darkroom equipment similar to what Adams would have used. Cool. In a video Adams discusses his technique. The video shows his darkroom and kitchen. In an example Adams prints a 16x20, carries it to the kitchen, rips it in a third, and microwaves the paper to check dry down. No qualms placing fingers in Dektol and slapping a semi washed print on the kitchen table let alone flashing the paper in the microwave.

The Brett Weston archive was purchased locally and stored in OKC. At the same date the museum is also showing a significant number of Brett's prints.

OKCMOA installed a high quality presentation.

http://www.okcmoa.com/see/exhibitions/ansel-adams/

Thanks for posting this. I'm about 5 hours from OKC but it definitely sounds worth a trip, also for the Brett Weston archive.

Richard Jepsen said:

. The video shows his darkroom and kitchen. In an example Adams prints a 16x20, carries it to the kitchen, rips it in a third, and microwaves the paper to check dry down. No qualms placing fingers in Dektol and slapping a semi washed print on the kitchen table let alone flashing the paper in the microwave.

http://www.okcmoa.com/see/exhibitions/ansel-adams/

Click to expand...

Well yes but he didn't live very long did he? No wait, he did actually live a long time despite these dangerous antics.

Must have been one of the lucky ones

pentaxuser

Do you remember video title ?

Saw this today.

I wasn't sure what I would think of Adam's prints - almost all of them were the biggest iconic images I knew, and they had what I thought was my favorite from viewing repros ("Roots, Foster Gardens, Honolulu").

The entire set is engrossing, meticulous and electric.

You mean everybody doesn't stick their fingers in the chemistry? You'll eat more photo chemistry in a day when you eat processed food than will ever seep into your bloodstream in the photo tray in a lifetime. Developer tastes good. Kinda strange flavor, but is a comforting taste that reminds me I'm doing my favorite thing--making pictures.

I had the good fortune a few years back see a number of exhibitions of Adams prints in a short time frame. I highly recommend you make the effort, they are stunning. I was able to spend about an hour, alone, with his Museum Set, while a blizzard kept most everyone else away, it was amazing.

Do go see the Adams exhibit. I saw Western Exposure when it was in Peoria, Illinois last summer and it was worth every penny.

I believe they are different exhibits. The magnificent Peoria show was curated be Adam's daughter-in-law who had access to family items and prints from the family's collection. The Oklahoma City show is organized by the Museum of Photographic Arts, San Diego, and I believe contains fewer prints.