Widener Gallery
Located on the ground floor of Austin Arts Center,
Widener Gallery is free and open to the public.
CURRENT EXHIBITION
DEVOTION: PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE COLLECTION OF THE WATKINSON LIBRARY AT TRINITY COLLEGE
Curated by Adrian Martinez Chavez, Visiting Assistant Professor of the Practice in Fine Arts
November 11 – December 9, 2024
Gallery Hours: Monday – Saturday, 1-5 p.m. and by appointment
Reception: Thursday, November 14, 12:15 – 1:45 p.m.
Devotion: Photographs from the Collection of the Watkinson Library at Trinity College, is an intimate exploration of the connections that shape our lives. The exhibition presents a selection of images by eleven prominent photographers who capture the essence of human devotion to others, to memories, or to self – from spontaneous images capturing fleeting interchanges to posed studio portraits.
Devotion includes twenty-five classic gelatin silver prints of images by Mike Disfarmer, František Drtikol, Leonard Freed, Ken Heyman, Henry Horenstein, Leon Levinstein, Jacques Lowe, Danny Lyon, Erika Stone, Lou Stoumen, and William Witt. The photographs, taken between 1925 and 1981, embody the essence of human connectedness, exploring love, family, friendship, kinship, and care from childhood through adulthood.
Each photographer delves into the nuances and complexities of human interaction, revealing how love is present in everyday moments—whether through a simple touch, a shared glance between two people, or at times, a direct collaboration between a sitter and a photographer. From Erika Stone’s joyful images of kids playing in the streets of New York City, to Lou Stoumen’s intimate views of couples in tender embraces, each photograph reflects a microcosm of commitment and care.
As exhibition curator Adrian Martinez Chavez elaborates, “…the images embody a profound sense of love and affection unfolding between the people standing in front of the camera. Subjects may or may not be aware of the photographer, yet the power of these photographs lies in a relationship of trust and mutual respect between the photographer and the human beings they have chosen to memorialize.”
Thanks to generous gifts by a small group of donors, shepherded by Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg, the Watkinson Library at Trinity College’s Photography Collection provides an important pedagogical resource for students, faculty, and community members interested in understanding our historical past and the trajectory of the art of photography.
For more information contact:
Lisa Lynch: [email protected], 860 297 5237
Or Tracy Quigley, [email protected], 860 297 5232
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