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The San Francisco Photography Scene: Various Galleries, Varied Views
| Article
# : |
14947 |
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Section : |
THE ARTS
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| Issue
Date : |
9 / 1988 |
2,674 Words |
| Author
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Darwin Marable
Darwin Marable is a photo historian, writer, lecturer, and
independent curator based in the San Francisco Bay area. |
For decades the predominant philosophy of photography in the San Francisco area was the straight to approach of the Group f 64, a name that the photographers used because they set their lenses at small apertures to obtain the clearest images possible. They were greatly influenced by the work of Edward Weston and developed an aesthetic based on his vision. Of course, ideas about photography in the San Francisco area have changed dramatically since the straight approach first gained dominance in the field. A multitude of viewpoints and techniques now coexist, ranging from the traditional straight to the experimental, and a San Francisco photography galleries reflect this diversity.
Oldest Operating Gallery
The Focus Gallery was the oldest continuously operating photography gallery in America until it closed its doors in 1985 after seventeen years. Helen Johnson, the owner of Focus, attempted to exhibit a cross section of Bay Area photography and never crated a forum for a particular viewpoint. The exhibitions ranged from Ansel Adams to Jerry Uelsmann and included local photographers as well as photographers with national and international reputations. Throughout the years, Focus always maintained an informal and democratic atmosphere. In contrast, current photography galleries seem more formal, specialized, and, at times, more elitist.
In the last decade a new generation of gallery owners ahs emerged. At thirty-two, Jeffrey Fraenkel is the youngest and one of the most successful of the photography dealers. Located at 55 Grant Avenue, just a few blocks down from the entrance to Chinatown, Fraenkel Gallery has been in operation since 1979
... (1997 of 16833 Characters)
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