Karsh exhibit at MFA

dans

Subscriber

Joined

Aug 21, 2004

Messages

58

Location

Northern MA

Format

Medium Format

• Nov 21, 2008

• #1

My wife and I went last weekend and to say we were dissapointed is an understatement. I like Karsh and they picked some of his best works. But the lighting absolutley stunk. There wasn't one photo that could be viewed without seeing reflections or yourself or somone else. It was a co0mplete waste of time IMHO. I have already seen my favorites, now I've seen them in the worst presentation of all. If you were thinking of seeing this, don't.

Dan

 

eddym

Member

Joined

Jan 22, 2006

Messages

1,924

Location

Puerto Rico

Format

Multi Format

• Nov 22, 2008

• #2

Are any of them available in the print viewing room? When I was in Boston a couple of years ago I wanted to make an appointment, but we were only there on a weekend, when it's closed.

 

ilya1963

Member

Joined

Oct 30, 2004

Messages

676

Format

8x10 Format

• Nov 22, 2008

• #3

Sorry to hear of your eperience...

If you have a chance...

I happened to be in Boston last weekend, Boston Public Library had about 30 or so of his prints , it was free , no problem with lighting and the selection was great.

Selection his icon images like a portrait of Hemingway, Shaw, Churchill....

Prints were of highest quality , aglow ....

Absolutely beautiful.

It was the first time I saw his work in person , reproduction do not hold a candle to his originals ...

 

Whiteymorange

Subscriber

Joined

Jul 27, 2004

Messages

2,387

Location

Southeastern CT

Format

Multi Format

• Nov 22, 2008

• #4

You might also try Brigham and Womens Hospital. There are two displays of original prints. One is in a waiting room off the main lobby and one is in the corridor they call "the Pike." Some are iconic images (Einstein, Helen Keller)and others are portraits of doctors and scientists that are not often seen.

 

Terence

Member

Joined

Mar 9, 2005

Messages

1,407

Location

NYC

Format

Multi Format

• Nov 29, 2008

• #5

Saw the MFA exhibit today. Both of my parents commented on the lighting and reflections, and they are not photography people. VERY distracting. I think the MFA needs to re-educate their exhibit people.

It's a real shame, because the photos are amazing.

 

OP

OP

dans

Subscriber

Joined

Aug 21, 2004

Messages

58

Location

Northern MA

Format

Medium Format

• Nov 30, 2008

• #6

Thanks for the other opportunities. I'll try and check them out. I think the next time we are in Boston, it will be the ICA.

Terrence, you hit the nail on the head. While I've seen a lot of these photos before (some in real life, others in books), I was expecting a lot better from the MFA. Karsh did such great portraits, but you realy had to work at finding that out fromthe exhibit.

Dan