Robert Frank, one of the most highly regarded photographers in history, is holding an exhibition of his work in Halifax at NSCAD's Anna Leonowens Gallery! He also happens to be a photo-idol of mine ever since I was introduced to his work by a fellow photog a few years ago.
The exhibit spans his entire career. All of the photos have been printed with acrylic ink on newsprint making for a very minimal presentation. It is quite striking... and quite transient as the entire exhibit will be destroyed at the end of the show's two week span. This exhibition is a collaboration between Robert Frank and his long time publishing partner Gerhard Steidl with whom he has published numerous books. Speaking of books, many of them are suspended mid-air for you to check out while you wander around the exhibition space. There is also a room downstairs in the gallery showing two of his films: Pull My Daisy and Me And My Brother.
Robert Frank and Gerhard Steidl both were in attendance and had a bit of a Q&A with the audience. It was really amazing to be able to attend something like this right in Halifax. I overheard people had flown from as far away as Toronto just to be in the presence of Robert Frank and hear him speak.
I met Robert Frank two years ago in a Cheticamp diner and took a photo of him with his wife June Leaf and his friend Reg Rankin.
So I made sure to print the photo out just in case I did indeed get a chance to talk. As luck would have it, I met him as he was leaving the gallery. I ended up giving him the photo as a sort of thank-you-for-being-so-awesome-and-inspirational gift. He smiled and shook my hand. Then I picked my jaw up off the sidewalk and left.
Do yourself a favour and get down to the Anna Leonowens Gallery ASAP if you have any interest in photography. You will be glad you did. Here are some photos from the opening followed by a closer look at a few of the prints.
The next set of photos are ones I took up close of some of these beautiful prints. It's too bad they will all be trashed at the end but that's how this exhibit was designed. I'm glad I was able to take part.
