NEWS

The Knoxville Museum of Art Presents Photographs by Ansel Adams

January 22, 2014

January 22, 2014 (Knoxville, TN) — The Knoxville Museum of Art presents Sight and Feeling: Photographs by Ansel Adams January 31-May 4, 2014. This exhibition of 23 prints by Ansel Adams emphasizes the role of the artist’s intuitive and emotional response to the landscape in the creation of his powerful and enduring images. Also included in the KMA’s special presentation of this exhibition are three rare prints Adams made during his little-known visit to East Tennessee’s Smoky Mountains in 1948.

Adams is widely considered to be America’s greatest landscape photographer. His ability to create black and white photographs with a remarkable range and subtlety of tones is legendary. Yet for all Adams’ technical mastery, he recognized that what made a compelling photograph was far more elusive.

Few are aware that in 1948 Adams traveled to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park—his first and only recorded visit to Tennessee—in order take photographs as part of a Guggenheim Fellowship on America’s national parks and monuments. The resulting images represent an extensive and important artistic record of the Smokies approximately 14 years after the park was established.

There will be an opening reception Thursday, January 30 at the KMA, which includes a members-only preview from 5 to 6pm, and a public opening from 6 to 8pm. Presenting sponsor for the exhibition, organized by the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, is Emerson Process Management with additional sponsorship from Kim and Stephen Rosen. KMA media sponsors include Digital Media Graphix, Kurt Zinser Design, and WBIR.

Ansel Adams, Dawn, Autumn Forest, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, 1948, Gelatin silverprint on paper, Knoxville Museum of Art; Gift of Patricia and Alan Rutenberg and Mary Ellen and Steve Brewington, 2009 All images © The Ansel Adams Publishing Rights Trust

The Knoxville Museum of Art celebrates the art and artists of East Tennessee, presents new art and new ideas, serves and educates diverse audiences, and enhances Knoxville’s quality of life. The museum is located in downtown Knoxville at 1050 World’s Fair Park and is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday 10 am–5 pm, and Sunday 1 pm-5 pm. Admission and parking are free. For more information, contact Angela Thomas at 865.934.2034 or visit www.knoxart.org.