Classic Adams Images To Make Northeast Debut

BRIDGEPORT — It is often said that a picture is worth a thousand words. Whoever coined this term must not have been familiar with Ansel Adams’ work, as his contributions to photography are worth an infinite number of words. SNET and Housatonic Community College have teamed up to give the public the opportunity to test this theory at the Northeastern debut of the exhibit “Ansel Adams: Classic Images.”

“Classic Images,” sponsored and presented by SNET, will be on display at Housatonic Museum of Art at Housatonic Community College in Bridgeport from February 4 to March 16.

The free exhibit contains all 75 pieces from one of Adams’ original “Museum Sets,” a group of images compiled by the artist himself during the last years of his life. After compiling museum sets of landscapes, still lifes, architectural studies and portraits, Adams then offered the collections to museums, educational institutions and corporations with a record of charitable giving and support for the arts. The sets have become Adams’ legacy to the art he dedicated his life to and had a profound influence upon.

This marks the first time the complete collection will be shown in its entirety in the Northeast. A portrait of Adams by his assistant, the photographer Jim Alinder, is also included in the exhibit. Among the Adams images on view will be “Mt McKinley and Wonder Lake,” “Moonrise,” “Aspens” and “Oak Tree, Snowstorm.”

“SNET is committed to supporting the arts in the communities we serve and are proud to bring the complete ‘Classic Images’ exhibit to the Northeast for the first time,” said Forrest Miller, the president and CEO of SNET. “We hope that many people will have the opportunity to view this spectacular compilation of art.”

The 75 photographs featured in “Classic Images” comprise one of six museum sets Adams handpicked and prepared for exhibition in museum across America. The photographs are Adams’ most beloved images, the images for which he wanted to be remembered. The exhibit includes his renowned landscape of Yosemite National Park along with several architectural studies, portraits and photographs that capture elegant details of nature. Cumulatively, the exhibit represents the finest examples of the quality and range of Adams’ artistic achievements and encompasses the entire scope of his career.

“We are excited to present this unique portfolio of Ansel Adams’ images to the Northeast area,” said Robbin Zella, the director of Housatonic Museum of Art. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our students and the communities of Connecticut to view Ansel Adams’ lifetime achievements as an artist and an activist, as well as to broaden their appreciation of photography.

“Adams’ sharp-focused images helped to influence Americans to understand photography’s aesthetic possibilities as well as to inspire the continued preservation of the American wilderness,” Ms Zella continued.

 Born in San Francisco in 1902, Ansel Adams was largely a self-taught photographer. Inspired by a family vacation to Yosemite National Park as a teen, Adams returned to the park every year for the rest of his life, amassing an incomparable photographic documentation of the area.

Adams’ parents gave him his first camera, a Kodak Brownie, in 1916. He gave up a promising career as a pianist when it became apparent to him that a photograph could be a work of art, as emotionally involving as any performance or painting.

Over his lifetime, it is estimated that Adams processed 40,000 negatives, produced 10,000 signed fine prints and presented more than 500 exhibitions of his work. Adams remained active as a photographer (and environmental conservationist) until his death on April 22, 1984.

The entire “Classic Images” collection is on loan from the corporate collection of SBC Communications, Inc., SNET’s parent company. The Cary Ellis Company of Houston organized the showing of “Classic Images.” An opening reception for the public will be held at the Burt Chernow Galleries from 1 to 4 pm on Sunday, February 4. The reception is free of charge.

The Burt Chernow Galleries at Housatonic Museum of Art are open to the public Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm; Thursday evenings until 7 pm; Saturday, 8:30 am to 3:30 pm; and Sunday, noon to 4 pm. Admission is free. The museum is at 900 Lafayette Boulevard. For further information and directions call 203/332-5203.

SNET and Housatonic Museum of Art have also, in conjunction with the Adams exhibit, created a Lecture and Lunch series to be presented in the gallery. Reservations should be made at 203/332-5052. Cost is $6 for the lunch provided by the museum, or participants can bring their own lunch. Each one-hour lecture begins at noon.

Peter Ulisse, the humanities chairman at Housatonic Community College, will open the series on Thursday, February 8, with “Emerson, Thoreau & Adams: Nature and Transcendentalism.”

On Wednesday, February 21, photographer Philip Trager will discuss “Photographic Techniques: Zone System to Digital Imaging.”

Robbin Zella, the director of Housatonic Museum of Art, will conclude the series on Thursday, March 1, with “Ansel Adams: American Identity & Ideals.”

Also in relation to “Classic Images,” Kim Sichel will discuss “Landscape Photographs in the American West,” on Thursday, February 15, at 5 pm. This is also a free public lecture. Ms Sichel is an associate professor of art history at Boston University.