Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Curator and photo album collector Levine feels that whenever she opens an album she is "activating a story"-the annals of a family, the tale of middle-class striving, the story of Americans developing visual literacy and gaining fluency with photography's new idiom. Levine and fellow curator Snyder have produced far more than a catalogue to a San Francisco exhibition opening in April or a coffee-table book-they have made a beautiful, quirky history of photo albums. The green, velvety cover itself has the aura of an old-time album, and the scads of reproduced photographs are a visual feast. One album the editors highlight features the young Al Capone; others showcase anonymous happy families, college students, even the occasional chicken. The images are enriched by the editors' argument that photo albums embody the same impulse as quilts and embroidered samplers: all are narratives in pictures. Largely responsible for the creation of the photo album was George Eastman, whose company, Kodak, not only hawked the Brownie camera, but also created the cultural icon of the elegant matriarch who preserved family memories through the camera and album. Unfortunately, the print is small and difficult to read, making it likely that readers will simply flip through this fascinating and informative cultural history. (Feb. 23) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Levine (deputy director, Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco) and Snyder (director & chief curator, Douglas F. Colley Memorial Art Gallery, Reed Coll.) have joined forces with noted graphic designer Martin Venezky to produce this compendium of photo albums dating from 1890 to 1930 that were originally exhibited at Reed College in Portland, OR. The advent of Kodak's Brownie camera in 1900 opened the door for the common people to document their lives, experiences, and impressions; they then further expressed themselves by creating individual albums. Examples of the medium are depicted here with front covers and annotated narratives that weave together images and commentary. The pictures alone provide a poignant look at another era; fashions and settings speak of bygone, simpler days. Artistic touches and embellishments by the albums' creators foretell an art/craft form in the making. Relationships, family, work, play, travel, special occasions, war, and beauty are all subjects that were captured and preserved. This book will make a welcome addition to public and special libraries, where everyone from history buffs to scrapbookers will appreciate it.-Karen MacMurray, Cape Coral P.L., FL (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Review by Library Journal Review
