Berman-Stieglitz Galleries, Ground Floor
Main Building
Mary Ellen Mark: Photographs is the first major exhibition to focus exclusively on the acclaimed photographer’s extensive American work. The exhibition features some 141 black-and-white photographs, many of which have never been exhibited. Included are powerful photographs from several of Mark’s well-known projects, including “Streetwise,” “Beauty Pageants,” “Rural Poverty,” “Texas Rodeos,” “The Damm Family,” and “Christian Bikers.”
Unsurpassed in bringing icon-like presence to her subjects, whether “everyday” or unusual, Mark (born 1940) was recently voted "Most Influential Woman Photographer of All Time" by readers of American Photo magazine. In this exhibition Mark’s empathic and penetrating vision is revealed in photographs that range from poignant images of a family living in its car or the devastated lives of women in a mental ward, to the exploits of Miami gigolos, spring-break revelers, prom-goers, cross-dressers, and trick-or-treaters.
Viewed together, Mark’s images form an arresting view of the United States, from innocuous backyard activities to the harshness of street life and the quirkiness of its subcultures. Mary Ellen Mark: Photographs presents a compelling look at a vast and endlessly fascinating country, from Coney Island to Daytona and Miami. Sometimes sad, sometimes funny, occasionally shocking and bizarre, Mark touches on the essence of American life, and looks for the common threads that connect us all.