The last weekend in August, we drove down to San Diego (just for Sunday) to see a photography exhibit at the San Diego Museum of Art on Richard Avedon’s Portraits of Power.
I’m fairly certain I have never been to the San Diego Museum of Art … and if I have I must have been very very young and didn’t drive and therefore didn’t know where it is.
All that to say – MapQuest directions were bad and we got lost trying to find the place …. but, we had an Italian language CD to entertain us as we circled blocks. Plus, I don’t know when the last time Andrew was in San Diego, but he didn’t realize there was a bridge to an island just off the coast there. He was pretty excited. We’ll have to go back.
Anyway – finally found it. In Balboa Park. Near another museum with a poster for a “Skull Stories” exhibit. If only we had planned for that too ….
Maybe we’re just not all that smart, but it seemed like the parking situation at SDMA was unnecessarily difficult. It appeared that the museum was at the end of this narrow (narrow) street, populated with other museums, trees, gardens, these fun strings of light, etc. This street was at the far end of a narrow bridge. At the close end of the narrow bridge there was NO indication that if you want to park, you really should turn before the bridge and park on one of these side streets, because otherwise you’ll drive across the bridge and down the narrow street only to turn around at the dead-end and go back.
So, we learned the hard way.
Don’t make the same mistake we did.
{sidenote: I love these strings of lights. I love the big, white bulbs. I’m going to get similar ones to string in our backyard when we buy a house}
(sidenote: yes, we drove all the way to the end, all the way back, found parking not too close and walked the whole length of the bridge/street again)
I forgive them the parking, though, because of the pleasant surprise that greeted us when we (finally) got to the museum.
The photography exhibit ended Sept 6, and with Andrew’s work and all the other things we had planned, there was only a couple days that we could have made the trip to see the show – one of them being Aug 30.
Lucky us – August 30 happened to be the day that Target Corporation was there hosting a ‘Family’ Day and the museum was free! We saved almost $25 just by luck.
One more reason I genuinely like Target.
I was too chicken respectful to take photos stealthily while inside the exhibit.
But one of my favorite San Diego wedding photographers did. You can see his quick shot here.
Richard Avedon ….. is amazing. I want to be like him.
I love learning about photography, and photographers, and Richard Avedon’s portrait work is SO up my alley.
I’m fairly certain there’s probably a few of his pics in my Vanity Fair: The Portraits: A Century of Iconic Images
The Portraits of Power exhibit was a collection of portraits of individuals/groups from throughout the American political landscape. From the site:
Richard Avedon, America’s pre-eminent portraitist and fashion photographer, portrayed significant figures of the American political landscape throughout his career. This exhibition brings together Avedon’s work on the subjects of politics and power for the first time. Juxtaposing more than 200 images of government, media, business, and labor officials with photographs of artists, activists, and ordinary citizens caught up in national debates, Richard Avedon: Portraits of Power explores a five-decade photographic inquiry by one of our finest artists.
It was so very interesting. I love that his images were so intimate and raw. Even when the subject was standing and just gazing straight at the camera, you could still get an idea of that person’s character, personality, their feeling about being photographed.
It’s so interesting to me.
Here’s a small glimpse of the gallery.
You may also purchase this collection and many of his other photographs in book form. I would LOVE love love to have any of these books. I’m especially partial to his work with artists/actors/performers. I want to someday have a big luxurious collection of photography books for inspiration and eye candy.
All that to say – I really really enjoyed seeing these images and I’m so grateful to Andrew for going with me and driving all the way to San Diego and back in one day. And for letting me sleep in the car.
I love learning new things, I love learning about photographers, and I LOVE that Andrew is such a big support of both of those …
super, super jealous!
When you kids were young we spent a lot of time in that Balboa park area in the various museums on vacation at least once. I’m not sure if we went in the Art museum, because I could rarely get any of you to go into Art museums with me. (remember DC?) Sad
I love those lights too. I want to get some to hang in the back yard between the house and the trees for parties and gatherings. Let me know if you see any for a good price.
Wow, I can’t believe that Andrew has never been to Coronado Island (across the big bridge). It’s a lot of fun. You’ve been there, but not sure when the last time was.
You guys really need to go to the Morrison Hotel Gallery in La Jolla. You would love the photography and Andrew would love that many of the subjects are in bands.