The Entertainer – Living Large for the Camera

SEPTEMBER 24 – NOVEMBER 5, 2022

“Fame has been with us for quite some time, but the celebrity was a nineteenth-century invention.” – Vicki Goldberg.

Although the technologies for making movies and recording music are relatively new, a little over a century old, they have helped create a permanent legacy for entertainers during the past century. Today, the impact entertainers have had globally in our daily lives is paramount. Through work in dance, film, sports, music, and other arts, these entertainers, such as rebellious rock stars, Hollywood actresses, sultry jazz musicians, gifted directors, or indomitable fighters, have devoted their careers to becoming cultural icons to the populous. These same entertainers are responsible for creating some of the most salient artworks and memories of our times. Whether through memorable lines in a movie, the hook of a song, or an excellent stage soliloquy, their work captivates our hopes and desires, ultimately enriching the human experience.

THE ENTERTAINER – LIVING LARGE FOR THE CAMERA

“Fame has been with us for quite some time, but the celebrity was a nineteenth-century invention.” – Vicki Goldberg.

Although the technologies for making movies and recording music are relatively new, a little over a century old, they have helped create a permanent legacy for entertainers during the past century. Today, the impact entertainers have had globally in our daily lives is paramount. Through work in dance, film, sports, music, and other arts, these entertainers, such as rebellious rock stars, Hollywood actresses, sultry jazz musicians, gifted directors, or indomitable fighters, have devoted their careers to becoming cultural icons to the populous. These same entertainers are responsible for creating some of the most salient artworks and memories of our times. Whether through memorable lines in a movie, the hook of a song, or an excellent stage soliloquy, their work captivates our hopes and desires, ultimately enriching the human experience.

For this exhibition, we highlight the work of those photographers with the masterful and prescient eyes who have created incredible pictures, catching glimpses of genius in the making and capturing those entertainers who have left a profound impact on culture. These iconic entertainers who changed the face of the world include Ray Charles, Sophia Loren, David Bowie, Muhammad Ali, Paul Newman, The Rolling Stones, Marilyn Monroe, Martha Graham, Jimi Hendrix, Frank Sinatra, Dolly Parton, and many others. These illustrious characters have all made lasting contributions to society through their performances and vision, existing vividly in the moment. They live in a specific time and space, and through the skill and art of photographers, we can revisit and re-imagine their unique contributions. The photographers in this exhibition include Harry Benson, Lawrence Schiller, Terry O’Neill, Norman Seeff, Douglas Kirkland, Gered Mankowitz, Ken Browar and Deborah Ory, Flip Schulke, Herman Leonard, Irving Penn, Alfred Eisenstaedt, and others. These photographers have created images that visually distill the qualities of greatness, making entertainers memorable and timeless. Indeed, these entertainers, as seen through the eyes of accomplished photographers, have provided the content for the memories of our youth, the soundtracks to our lives, and the backdrops to our fantasies through their unforgettable careers.