UMMA Off/Site 1301 South University Ann Arbor 48104 Michigan
William Christenberry Photographs: 1961-2005 will present nearly a half-century of the work of William Christenbery whose photographic exploration of the American South has been ongoing for forty years. Drawing inspiration from such pioneers as Walker Evans (American, 1903-1975) and Bernd and Hilla Becher (German, b. 1931 and 1934), Christenberry has been a major influence on a generation of emerging photographers. Ranging from his earliest Brownie photographs from the early 1960s to later work with a large-format camera, this project surveys the artist's poetic documentation of Southern vernacular architecture, signage, and landscape, capturing moments of quiet beauty in a sometimes rustic terrain. Coupling never-before-seen photographs, both old and new, with now-iconic images, the exhibition presents 50 vintage photographic works and one sculpture.
Aperture, a not-for-profit organization devoted to photography and the visual arts, has organized this traveling exhibition and produced the accompanying publication.