An exhibition featuring more than 100 photographs -- from tiny daguerreotypes to large-scale contemporary color -- will open Thursday, Feb. 14, at the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University. The works come from leading public and private North Carolina collections.
"Light Sensitive: Photographic Works from North Carolina Collections" is structured to challenge the widespread notion of the photographic medium as a form of mere realism. The exhibition investigates the history of photography through the ways that artists can alter the medium with a wide variety of tools and techniques, such as manipulating light to magical effect; constructing images that seem to be, but are not, recordings of the real world; and pointedly emulating other media.
More information on the exhibition is available at http://nasher.duke.edu/lightsensitive/.
"We are pleased to present a rich exhibition that encompasses a wide range of photographic expression and celebrates the passion and enthusiasm for photography shown by collectors in our area," said Sarah Schroth, interim director of the Nasher Museum. "We hope these works -- by American and international photographers spanning more than 150 years -- will inspire all who see them."
"Light Sensitive" includes works by Diane Arbus, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Walker Evans, Robert Frank, Andreas Gefeller, Sally Mann, Richard Misrach, Vik Muniz, Alfred Stieglitz, Thomas Struth and numerous others.
The exhibition opening event is Wednesday, Feb. 13, at 7:30 p.m. Other programs that complement the exhibition include the annual Semans Lecture on Feb. 28 by photographer Burk Uzzle, whose work is part of "Light Sensitive;" a gallery talk by Schroth and collector Frank Konhaus on March 7; an "Art with the Experts" talk at the Southwest branch of Durham County Library; free Family Day events and a free K-12 teacher workshop. A student-organized "Art for All" event, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first black students enrolled at Duke, is April 7.
"Light Sensitive" is co-organized by guest curator Patricia Leighten, professor of Art History & Visual Studies at Duke, and Schroth, the Nancy Hanks senior curator at the Nasher Museum.
"Light Sensitive" has been made possible by the Mary Duke Biddle Foundation and the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke. _ _ _ _ The Nasher Museum, at 2001 Campus Drive at Anderson Street on the Duke campus, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday; 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Thursday; and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The museum is closed Mondays. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for non-Duke students with identification, $4 for seniors, free to members of the Duke Alumni Association with I.D. card and free for children 15 and younger. Admission is free to all on Thursday nights. Admission is free to Duke students, faculty and staff with Duke ID cards, and to Duke Alumni Association members with card. Admission is also free to Nasher Museum members. Additional information is available at www.nasher.duke.edu.