ANSEL ADAMS: March 4 - May 27, 2007. American images captured by an American master.

Ansel Adams –
America’s Treasures from an American Treasure

Detroit Institute of Arts exhibition features rare early works, well known landscapes

January 11, 2007 (Detroit)—From powerful mountain majesties, to a serene moonrise, to the urban landscape and architecture of mid 20th-century America, Ansel Adams (1902–1984) captured American scenes like few other photographers. Over 100 black and white photographs made during the course of Adams’ long and influential career are on view in the exhibition Ansel Adams at the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) March 4–May 27. In Detroit, the exhibition is sponsored by DTE Energy Foundation.

Ansel Adams features familiar images and others that are little known and extremely rare. Adams’ photographs of the great American West as well as his interest in the commonplace, whether the beauty of a garden rose or the abstract patterning of the Los Angeles freeway, communicate his personal response to the grandeur and complexity of the world around him.

Adams became a master of the medium of photography through careful composition and close attention to detail, texture and light. He often studied and photographed the same scenes during varying weather conditions and throughout the seasons of the year. Adams was also a tireless perfectionist when it came to printing his black-and-white photographs. He was renowned for his darkroom expertise and was an influential author, teacher, critic and promoter of photography as a fine art.

“The photographs in this exhibition showcase the artistry and technical ability that enabled Ansel Adams to take photography to a new level,” said Graham W. J. Beal, DIA director. “While many people might have posters, calendars, and other items that feature Adams’ images, it is truly amazing to see his original photographs. It is an experience not to be missed.”

The exhibition begins with early works from Yosemite National Park around 1917; Adams’ soft-focus and romantic photographs from the 1920s, including his first serious landscape series, photos of Pueblo Indians, and mountain views of the Canadian Rockies; large-format pictures from the 1930s; and Western landscapes of the 1930s through the 1960s. Lesser-known works include Adams’ abstract studies, still life, urban and architectural views as well as portraits of his friends and fellow artists Georgia O’Keeffe, John Marin, and Edward Weston.

The photographs for this exhibition are from The Lane Collection, which is the largest private holding of Adams’ work. Saundra B. Lane and the late William H. Lane worked in close collaboration with Adams to compile their outstanding collection, which consists of a more personal group of pictures than is widely known. An exhibition catalog, Ansel Adams in the Lane Collection, is available in the DIA’s museum shop in soft cover for $40 and hardcover for $65.

Tickets, which include an audio tour and general admission, are $10 for adults, $9 for adult groups of 20+, and $5 for ages 5-17. DIA members are admitted free.

This exhibition was organized by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. In Detroit, the exhibition is sponsored by DTE Energy Foundation. Additional support has been provided by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit.

The DIA is currently undergoing a major renovation, scheduled for completion in late 2007. The museum remains open with a dynamic schedule of programs and activities. Visitors can enjoy some of the DIA’s “greatest hits” while the museum prepares for an entirely new installation when renovations are completed.

Museum hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Fridays, and 10 a.m.–-5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission is a donation. We recommend $6 for adults and $3 for children. DIA members are admitted free. For membership information call 313-833-7971.

Programs are made possible with support from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the City of Detroit.

< BACK TO MEDIA ROOM