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Ansel Adams and the Photographers of the West

February 1, 2019

- May 26, 2019

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In 1916, a fourteen year-old Ansel Adams (1902-1984) began to capture the beauty of the West. Adams’ subsequent body of work – over 40,000 photographs – influenced the practice of countless photographers and played an instrumental role in the rise of the environmental movement in the United States. Ansel Adams and the Photographers of the West is an intimate look at seven iconic works by Adams as well as thirty nine photographs by twelve other artists, including Edward Weston, Brett Weston, Eliot Porter, Laura Gilpin, Philip Hyde, and William Garnett.

Presenting the wilderness of the West as a place to protect in all its beauty, Adams was the visual artist who pioneered what is now known as the modern environmental movement. Adams saw the American wilderness as a remedy to the chaos of urban life. He relied on photography to depict well-frequented tourist areas as pristine wildernesses, to be protected for the benefit of humanity. He also played an important role in the growth of the Sierra Club and led numerous campaigns, lobbying tirelessly for the protection of the environment.

The artists featured in this exhibition followed Adams’ example and developed personal bonds with America’s wild places. Each relied on photography to convey a distinct vision of the land. Their work showcases the natural beauty of our nation’s parks and nature captured throughout California, Washington, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona.

The exhibition features seven gelatin silver prints by Adams, including favorites “Moon and Half Dome,” “Mount Williamson, Sierra Nevada, from Manzanar, California” and “El Capitan, Winter Sunrise, Yosemite National Park, California.” Additionally, the show includes a significant portion of Brett Weston’s “White Sands” portfolio and Porter’s “Glen Canyon” portfolio.

Discover Oklahoma looks closer at Ansel Adams and the Photographers of the West in their March 9th episode!

Special Programming and Events:

Public Exhibition Tours:
Visitors may choose to visit this exhibition with their general admission ticket, or they may register for a public exhibition tour, led by OKCMOA staff. Public exhibition tours provide visitors with conversation-based insights and in-depth experiences focusing on the artwork and featured artists.

$15 for members and $25 for non-members, pre-registration recommended.

Saturday, April 6 | 2 pm  SOLD OUT
Thursday, April 18 | 6 pm  SOLD OUT
Saturday, April 27 | 2 pm  SOLD OUT
Sunday, May 12 | 2 pm  SOLD OUT
Saturday, May 25 | 2 pm  SOLD OUT

Babies at the Museum & Museum Playdate:
April | Sand & Senses
Babies at the Museum: Friday, April 5  FULL
Babies at the Museum: Saturday, April 6  FULL
Museum Playdate: Saturday, April 13  FULL

Please email learn@okcmoa.com to be placed on a waiting list if an event is sold out.

Mount Williamson, Sierra Nevada, from Manzanar, California, 1944. Photograph by Ansel Adams
Collection of Mr. and Mrs. Nicholas V. Duncan
© The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

WEB CCP 76577031

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