FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: May 15, 2013 Contact Natalie Mathis Director of Institutional Advancement (513) 352-5133 nmathis@taftmuseum.org
PRESS PREVIEW Today at 4PM Please join us today at 4PM for a special presentation and tour led by Tamera Muente, Installing Curator of PHOTOGRAPHIC WONDERS: American Daguerreotypes from The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to nmathis@taftmuseum.org. Images can be found here: http://www.taftmuseum.org/?page_id=2916 CINCINNATI, OH. Daguerreotypes, the first form of photography, were so innovative, they were deemed “Wonderful wonder of wonders!!” in the pages of The New Yorker on April 13, 1839. The article went on to say, “Here is a revolution in art.”   Assistant Curator Tamera Muente, installing curator of the exhibition, says, “These were the first photographs. Prior to this the only way you could preserve your image was through a painting or sketch. Imagine seeing yourself in a photograph for the first time--it would seem like magic, and that's exactly the first reaction people had." Photographic Wonders: American Daguerreotypes from The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, will be on display at the Taft Museum of Art May 17–Aug. 25. The exhibition features 82 astonishing images of life in 19th-century America, including rare pictures of such well-known Americans as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Frederick Douglass, and Tom Thumb. A daguerreotype is a unique image crafted on a silvered copper plate, a surface that acts like a mirror. While sometimes hard to view, this exhibition presents the works under perfect lighting conditions. The earliest daguerreotypes required exposures of up to thirty minutes. Within a few years, however, portraits could be made in about ten to twenty seconds. Among the exceptional daguerreotypes in Photographic Wonders are post-mortem images (portraits taken after death) that tell sorrowful stories, while The Comic Dentist and other humorous subjects still amuse today's audiences. Portraits of individuals with the hallmarks of their trade (called occupationals), including a blacksmith with his tools, a woman ironing, and a clown in costume, show Americans' pride in their work. Outdoor scenes reveal quaint towns and growing cities, while landscapes feature popular tourist destinations. The wide range of subjects offers something for every interest. The exhibited works in Photographic Wonders are part of an acclaimed collection that Hallmark Cards, Inc., donated in 2005 to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. The choice examples selected for the Taft date from about 1840 to about 1860, while Nicholas Longworth and his family lived in the historic house that is now the Taft Museum of Art. Taft Museum of Art Director/CEO, Deborah Emont Scott, says, “It’s an amazing experience to view these precious, one-of-a-kind photographs.  The images are small and the viewing experience is an intimate one – you step back in time and share a rare mid-19th-century moment with the sitter.” Sponsors: The H.B., E.W. and F.R. Luther Charitable Foundation, Fifth Third Bank and Narley L. Haley, Co-Trustees; A Friend of the Taft Museum of Art; Warrington Exhibition Endowment; Chellgren Family Endowment Fund; Docents of the Taft Museum of Art; The Frank J. Kloenne and Jacqueline D. Kloenne Foundation; The John W. Hauck Foundation; FOTOFOCUS Exhibition support generously provided by: Ellen and George Rieveschl Endowment ArtsWave Partner: P&G Operation Support: ArtsWave, Ohio Arts Council Season Sponsor: The Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./U.S. Bank Foundation This exhibition has been organized by The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art   CALENDAR LISTINGS The Daguerreotype Known ‘Round the World: The Cincinnati Panorama of 1848 Thursday, June 6, 7 p.m. Patricia Van Skaik tells the tale of the Panorama, Cincinnati’s internationally renowned daguerreotype, which is on display at the Public Library of Cincinnati. Skaik oversaw the conservation of the Panorama, which was shown in the Great Exhibition of 1851 at London’s Crystal Palace. It is the oldest surviving photograph of an American city and one of the finest examples of daguerreian photography. Skaik is Manager of the Genealogy and Local History Department, Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. FREE Members and Students. $10 Public (includes exhibition admission) Reservations: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org Sponsor: Stanely and Frances D. Cohen Lecture Series Wonder of Wonders: The Art of the American Daguerreotype Wednesday, June 26, 7 p.m. Jane Aspinwall, Associate Curator of Photography, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, discusses the aesthetics of this earliest form of photography, revealing surprising variety of subjects recorded. Aspinwall has worked with the Hallmark Photographic Collection at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art since 1999. The exhibition Photographic Wonders will be open 4-7 p.m. FREE members and Students. $10 Public (includes exhibition admission) Reservations: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org Sponsor: Stanley and Frances D. Cohen Lecture Series “Let Nobody Turn Us Around”: African-American Images and History in the 19th Century Sunday, July 14, 2:30 p.m. Dr. Eric R. Jackson, Director, Black Studies Program, Northern Kentucky University, leads guests through the special exhibition discussing images of African Americans as presented in the show and in other 19th-century visual and literary works. Jackson, an associate professor at Northern Kentucky University, is an editor of the Journal of Pan African Studies. FREE Reservations recommended: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org FREE Third Sunday Funday Say Cheese! Sunday, July 21, 1-4 p.m. Bring the whole family to the Taft to experience a free afternoon of great art, kid-sized art info, hands-on fun, and family friendly performances. Use our kid-friendly Family Guide of the exhibition to put yourself in the picture with a hands-on activity, and experiment with a camera obscura at the Art Cart. At 2:30, ArtReach performs Cincinnati: A City of Immigrants.  Perfect for ages 10 and up. FREE. No reservations taken Information (513) 684-4515 Sponsor: The Charles H. Dater Foundation ArtsWave Partner: Enquirer Media ArtReach is a division of the Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati Through the Photographer’s Lens Friday, August 2, 2-3:30 p.m. Photographer Matthew Allbritton will disuss his inspirations and explain historical technical processes. His own work is inspired by his travels. He holds a master of fine art in photography from the University of Texas at Austin. Following the talk, Albritton will share his insights about the exhibition. FREE with museum admission Reservations required: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org GALLERY TALKS Thursday, June 20, 1:30 p.m. Friday, August 16, 1:30 p.m. Assistant Curator Tamera Muente shares her insights about the exhibition. Friday, July 26, 1:30 p.m. Curator of Education Nancy Huth leads a gallery talk focusing on 19th-century fashion. FREE with Museum admission Reservations required: (513) 684-4515 or www.taftmuseum.org ArtsWave Partner: Duke Energy Corporation SATURDAY EXHIBITION TOURS Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. Join a Taft docent for a half-hour look at this exhibition. FREE with Museum admission. No reservations taken   Media Contact: Natalie Mathis nmathis@taftmuseum.org 513.241.0343 Thomas Easterly (American, 1809–1882), Man with Elephant, about 1850, daguerreotype, quarter plate, image size: 3 ¼ x 4 ¼ inches. The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Gift of Hallmark Cards, Inc., 2005.27.37. © Nelson Gallery Foundation
The Taft Museum of Art is at 316 Pike St., in downtown Cincinnati. The Museum is open Wednesday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, students, and teachers, $4 for youth 12-17, and free for children under 12. The Museum is free to all on Sundays. Call 513-241-0343 or visit the website at www.taftmuseum.org for additional information. ###### The Taft Museum of Art is supported in part by the generosity of individuals and businesses that give annually to the Fine Arts Fund. The Ohio Arts Council helps fund the Museum with state tax dollars to encourage economic growth, educational excellence, and cultural enrichment for all Ohioans. The Taft Museum of Art is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is affiliated with the Association of Midwest Museums and the Ohio Museums Association. Mission Statement The Taft Museum of Art welcomes people of every background to experience a world-renowned collection in a beautiful historic house. Through its intimate presentation of Anna and Charles Taft’s treasures and its engaging exhibitions, programs, and activities, the Museum creates enjoyment and learning opportunities for all. Diversity Statement The Taft Museum of Art respects the dignity of all people and values what each member of our team brings to the organization. Accordingly, the Museum is committed to building an inclusive environment that welcomes and values diversity. This includes our staff, board of directors, volunteers and visitors. As an organization we recognize the importance of attracting and retaining talented people of different backgrounds. We understand how a diverse work team of staff, board of directors and volunteers benefits our organization by enabling us to draw upon a richness of resources. We want all our team members to feel appreciated for their uniqueness, so we work to foster an environment that provides everyone equal access to information and opportunities. This ensures that each person learns, grows, excels and maximizes his or her personal contributions. The Museum will thus be able to tap into a greater wealth of knowledge, perspectives, and experiences to develop and deliver programs and services to an increasingly diverse audience.