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| David Marks |
There’s a portrait right in front of us almost all of the
time. It’s a wonder that we don’t take more of them. All you need is to see
the subject and to have a camera.
Last weekend in Santa Fe for an art opening I attended the
extraordinary History in a Moment
show at the Monroe Gallery on Don Gaspar Street. The exhibition of iconic photographs
from the Great Depression of the 1930s, WWll, Viet Nam and the Iraq War should
not be missed. Carl Mydans, George Silk, Margaret Bourke-White, Alfred Eisenstaedt
are among the photographers included. Many images in the show are part of Time Magazine: 100 Photographs: The Most Influential Photographs of All Time that appeared in my in-box yesterday.
Just across the street is the David Marks Gallery. It wasn’t
on my radar at that particular moment but it featured black and white
photography so I couldn’t very well not go. Turns out David is a fine black and
white shooter and quite the raconteur. I commented that he was displaying landscapes
and asked if it was because “that’s what sells.” He allowed that my hypothesis was valid but then he walked me to a bin of portraits. All
excellent. He said that William Eppridge, a Life Magazine photographer and one of those featured in the History in a Moment
show across the street, had visited his gallery a few years back and that, during that
visit, he had photographed him. When Eppridge died in 2013 David’s image of him was the one included in news coverage of his passing.
As I prepared to leave I asked David where he photographed
Eppridge. He said “In the doorway.” The picture up top was taken in that exact place.
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3 comments:
So truly said, Steve. Something or someone is before us every moment. Our minds are not always thinking in those terms, but they are there. Thanks so much for mentioning the two shows. We'll make sure we get to them. Love your photograph of David Marks. You captured an open, welcoming face, full of creativity and wisdom. Glad you continue to share these jewels with your readers.
Thanks for this. I really like being able to keep tabs on you and your wanderings.
Thanks you two. David was a super guy with a most expressive face. Whadaya mean keep tabs, Ellsworth? Is this some kind of big brother thing? Just finished my seventh of your gripping tomes BTW. Keep 'em coming!
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