Related Events
OPENING LECTURE: BERENICE ABBOTT’S MODERN LENS
July 12, 11 am
Manton Research Center auditorium
Grace Hanselman, curatorial assistant for works on paper, introduces the work of Berenice Abbott, a pioneering documentary photographer known best for her portraits of the Parisian avant-garde and striking snapshots of twentieth-century New York. In the 1920s, American-born Abbott worked as an assistant to Man Ray in Paris before her career as a portraitist solidified in its own right. In a major artistic pivot, she returned to the United States in 1929 to undertake her most celebrated project: documenting New York City’s rapid urban transformation. Lesser-known but equally accomplished is her body of work photographing other cities and towns in the American Northeast. This exhibition showcases selections from a 2007 gift of over 400 Abbott photographs, some iconic and rarely if ever exhibited, highlighting her enduring impact on modern photography.
Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524.
COMMUNITY DAY: ART IN ACTION
July 13, 11 am–4 pm
It’s time for our biggest bash, Community Day at the Clark! Celebrate vibrant artwork, the lush summer campus, and the remarkable women artists highlighted in the exhibitions open this season—A Room of her Own: Women Artist-Activists in Britain, 1875–1945; Berenice Abbott’s Modern Lens; and Mariel Capanna: Giornata. Enjoy free admission to the permanent collection and special exhibitions all day, as well as special activities, art-making, artist demonstrations, and entertainment inspired by these special exhibitions.
From 11 am–4 pm, pose for a photo-portrait like Berenice Abbott’s subjects, explore fiber arts like May Morris, and add to a collaborative mural in the style of Marial Capanna’s frescoes. Throughout the day, experience live music performances, delicious food from a variety of local vendors, and even more fun surprises. This all-ages event is sure to lift your artistic spirits!
Free and open to all. Refreshments available for purchase. Held rain or shine.
Family programs are generously supported by Allen & Company.
BERENICE ABBOTT: THE WOMAN BEHIND THE LENS
August 3, 2 pm
Manton Research Center auditorium
Few people knew Berenice Abbott better than fellow photographer Hank O’Neal, who worked with her for the last nineteen years of her life. In this lecture, learn more about the fascinating woman behind the images from a man who knew her not only as a towering figure in the history of photography, but as a friend and mentor. O’Neal has authored several books about Berenice Abbott’s life and photography, and will soon release a memoir titled You’ve Got to Do a Damn Sight Better than That, Buster: Working with Berenice Abbott 1972–1991. This lecture is presented in conjunction with the exhibition Berenice Abbott’s Modern Lens.
Free. Accessible seats available; for information, call 413 458 0524.
WORKS ON PAPER HIGHLIGHTS TALK: BERENICE ABBOTT BONUS SELECTION
August 13, 1 pm
Manton Study Center for Works on Paper
American-born, Parisian-trained Berenice Abbott (1898–1991) is one of the most skillful and celebrated documentary photographers of the twentieth century. Grace Hanselman, curatorial assistant for works on paper, presents a marvelous sampling of portrait and architectural photographs that simply could not fit on the walls of Berenice Abbott’s Modern Lens.
This event is part of a series of Works on Paper Highlights Talks in the Manton Study Center for Works on Paper, which houses the Clark's collection of more than 6,500 prints, drawings, and photographs. Each week, discover a unique selection of rarely exhibited works on paper with a member of the curatorial department. Offered Wednesdays in the end of July and through August from 1–1:30 pm.
Free. Capacity is limited. Seating is first-come, first-served.