The Surface: On and Beneath

On display January 18 – March 16, 2018

20th Century Photography from the Evergreen Art Collection

Featuring Andy Warhol’s Polaroids, Black & White Prints
and on loan from the Andy Warhol Museum:
Screen Tests

The Evergreen Gallery proudly presents for the first time, a major exhibition of the college’s Andy Warhol Photography Collection, alongside some of Evergreen’s greatest works by major photographic artists of the 20th century.

For many artists, the surface is a layer to be penetrated for what lies beneath—the surreal worlds uncovered in Jerry Uelsmann’s dreamscapes and Ralph Gibson’s grainy and mysterious 35mm candids; or the angst brutally revealed in Diane Arbus’ confrontational portraits.

Andy Warhol on the other hand, thought of emotion as an inconvenience, a burden, and something to omit from his work.  His photography had little use for the boundaries of aesthetic, formal, and technical rigor exemplified by the other artists in this exhibition.  And yet, his seemingly unjaded gaze uncovered a raw and unapologetic glamor to late 20th century American life.

If you want to know all about Andy Warhol, just look at the surface of my paintings and films and me, and there I am. There’s nothing behind it.

Whereas Richard Misrach’s Desert Cantos series and Edward Weston’s Pepper #30 demand sober contemplation and emotional surrender, Warhol’s works ask nothing but to invite you to the party.

In addition to over 130 photographs, the exhibition includes Warhol’s Screen Tests, a number of short black and white film portraits that were created in the Factory in the 1960’s.  Celebrities Salvador Dali, Nico, Bob Dylan and others are featured.

Featuring:

• Diane Arbus
• Marsha Burns
• Jo Ann Callis
• ​Paul Caponigro
• Judy Dater
• John Divola
• ​Steve Fitch
• Ralph Gibson
• Ford Gilbreath
• Ralph Eugene Meatyard
• Richard Misrach
• ​Karen Truax
• ​Jerry Uelsmann
• ​Jack Welpott
• Brett Weston
• Edward Weston
• Geoff Winningham
• ​Don Worth