One of the most rewarding aspects of
our role as gallerists
is the time we spend with photographers learning about their careers and
experiences. After completing a hectic week of instruction at the Santa Fe Workshops,
last night Joe McNally joined us for dinner and conversation. Joe's impressive biography
spans more than 30 years, from his early days as a stringer for the New York
Daily News to cover stories for Life, TIME, Newsweek, Fortune, New York,
Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, and Men's Journal; as
well as being a contribution photographer to National Geographic for over 20
years.
Joe was one of the last staff
photographer's at Life, and we share many fond (and humorous) memories of the
giants that came before him such as Alfred Eisenstaedt, Carl Mydans, Ralph
Morse, and many others.
As New Yorkers who experienced
September 11, 2001, we have been passionate admirers of one of McNally's most
notable large-scale projects, "Faces of Ground Zero". This collection
has become known as one of the most significant artistic responses to the September
11, 2001, tragedy at New York's World Trade Center, and in 2003 we exhibited
four of the Giant Polaroids in the exhibition "Icons" following a Six city tour.
The entire Faces of Ground Zero project consists of 150 photographs taken with a
one-of-a-kind camera, a 12-foot by 12-foot high Polaroid which takes pictures
40 inches wide by 80 inches tall - larger than life-size. Joe has stayed in
touch with many of his subjects over the last ten years, and has recently been
photographing updated profiles.
The book’s description says it all:
"This expanded edition includes
a new foreword by Tom Brokaw, reflections on how the nation has changed in the
decade since 9/11, updates on the people involved that day, and new and
exclusive portraits by award-winning photographer Joe McNally, who made
indelible pictures at Ground Zero in the immediate aftermath of the tragic
event.
For decades, Americans have turned to LIFE to see, understand, and remember the most important events of history. In addition to a powerful array of photographs taken by many of the world's greatest photographers, ONE NATION includes original essays by some of our finest writers. Contributors include David McCullough, Maya Angelou, James Bradley, Melissa Fay Greene, Margaret Carlson, Bob Greene and many others. To re-read these pieces today is to revisit an astonishing moment. There is an immediacy and passion to the writing that speaks, just as the photographs do, to what 9/11 was-and meant to us all."
For decades, Americans have turned to LIFE to see, understand, and remember the most important events of history. In addition to a powerful array of photographs taken by many of the world's greatest photographers, ONE NATION includes original essays by some of our finest writers. Contributors include David McCullough, Maya Angelou, James Bradley, Melissa Fay Greene, Margaret Carlson, Bob Greene and many others. To re-read these pieces today is to revisit an astonishing moment. There is an immediacy and passion to the writing that speaks, just as the photographs do, to what 9/11 was-and meant to us all."
Joe has organized a very special
exhibition of his original Face of Ground Zero Polaroids alongside some of his
recent portraits. The exhibit will take place at the Time Inc building during
the 10th anniversary of 9/11, be certain to see it if you are in New
York.
Thank you for a great evening, Joe.
