Ansel Adams: Masterworks

 ANSEL ADAMS: MASTERWORKS
From the Collection of The Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding, CA

This collection of 48 photographs by Ansel Adams (1902-84) represents two-thirds of a selection he made late in life to serve as a succinct representation of his life’s work. Adams felt these photographs were his best. Called The Museum Set, these images reveal the importance Adams placed on the drama and splendor of natural environments that might not, to the ordinary passing hiker, have revealed their secrets. The collection was donated to the The Turtle Bay Exploration Park by D. Fidel Real y Vasquez.

This exhibition was organized by the Turtle Bay Exploration Park, Redding, California. Exhibition tour management by Landau Traveling Exhibitions, Los Angeles, California.

Despite the misty day, Joan and I traveled to Utica to Munson Williams Proctor Arts Institute to view the Ansel Adams exhibition. Drew had previously visited this collection. Recently he mentioned it to me. This collection was as Drew advertised - spectacular.

The facility was spic and span and the docents were pleasant if not very talkative.

The Adams display while not overwhelming was impressive. A Kodak Brownie Box #1 was displayed in one of the kiosk.

Alfred Stieglitz & Painting by O'Keeffe

Found this photograph of Stieglitz with a Georgia O'Keefee painting in the background amusing. Stieglitz was an important mentor for Adams, and Adams dedicated his 1948 "Portfolio 1" in his memory. The more well known image of Stieglitz appears in that portfolio. Surprisingly, however, Ansel selected this image for his Museum Set, which were 75 of what he considered his best photograph and would help define his artistic legacy.

Joan and I found these photos to our liking:

Rose and Driftwood

The fact that Adams used a piece of wave-worn driftwood stuck our interest.

Siesta Lake 

This black and white reflection brought Francis Lake to mind.

 

 Sand Dunes

One factoid that we noted in reading the excerpts was that Adams liked to say extract instead of abstract.

The Munson-Williams-Proctor Museum of Art's permanent collection of more than 25,000 objects originated in the taste and interests of the Williams and Proctor families, who collected American and European paintings, and decorative arts in the late 19th and 20th centuries.

One of my desires was to view a Jackson Pollock.  The Munson-Williams-Proctor Museum fulfilled this.

Number 2 1949

Jackson Pollock

The following photos appeared in the brochure:

Ansel Adams (American, 1902-84)
Mount Williamson, The Sierra Nevada, from Manzanar, California

1945, silver print

Collection of the Turtle Bay Exploration Center, Redding, California

©2010 The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.

Ansel Adams (American, 1902-84)

Monolith, The Face of Half Dome, Yosemite National Park, California

silver print

Collection of the Turtle Bay Exploration Center, Redding, California

©2010 The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust.