Exhibition Review: Phoenix Gallery | Fashioning Self

©Dennis Feldman, Man with Reflective Glasses 1969-1972. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Gift of the artist.

Written by Mandi Smith

Copy Edited by Kee'nan Haggen

Photo Edited by Dani Stein

With its commitment to excellence and innovation, the Phoenix Art Museum is a true gem of the Phoenix cultural scene, attracting visitors from around the world. The museum features more than 20,000 works of art spanning from various genres and periods, including contemporary art, European art, American art, Asian art, and Latin American art. The institution has been fully committed to showcasing world-class exhibitions and engaging programs that inspire, educate, and entertain visitors of all ages. As a complement to the museum's iconic building designed by renowned architect Alden B. Dow, the latest collections will be presented as a companion to the museum's classically built edifice that explores self-expression through the lens of photography. 

The exhibition is titled "Fashioning Self: The Photography of Everyday Expression", and explores the importance of capturing everyday expressions and the relationship between self-expression, street fashion, and the photographic medium. The collection also features an intertwined community-based social media feed alongside works by photographers David Hume Kennerly, Louis Carlos Bernal, Helen Levitt, and Teenie Harris. Kennerly is renowned for his iconic images of political figures, Bernal for his portraits and documentary work that capture the cultural traditions of Mexican-Americans, Levitt for her street photography that poetically captures the daily lives of ordinary people in New York City, and Harris for his documentary work that chronicles the cultural, social, and political history of the black community in Pittsburgh from the 1930s to the 1970s. Overall, this exhibition serves as a valuable resource for historians and cultural researchers interested in the intersection of self-expression, street fashion, and photography. 

©David Hume Kennerly, President Barack Obama And First Lady Michelle Obama Attend The Inaugural Balls, 2009. Chromogenic print. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: David Hume Kennerly Archive. © Center for Creative Photography, Arizona Board of Regents

©Louis Carlos Bernal, Albert y Lynn Morales, Silver City, New Mexico, 1978. Chromogenic print. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Gift of the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund. © Lisa Bernal Brethour and Katrina Berna

©Joan Liftin, American, Drive-in Owners, North Carolina, 1987. Chromogenic print. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Gift of Helen Levitt.

To encourage active engagement in the discussions regarding self-expression and artistic creation within the realm of a hyper-visual culture, the exhibition includes a revolving exhibit of social media photos contributed by visitors. While taking in the visual representations of identity on display, visitors are encouraged to snap their own selfies and portraits and post them online with the hashtag #FashioningSelf. This fusion of professional and amateur photography highlights the benefits of finding beauty in the ordinary, and also serves as a documentation of humanity. Capturing pivotal moments that reveal shared experiences emphasizes how film can record our similarities, and help us form our collective identities. “Fashioning Self” also features street, documentary, and self-portrait photographs that portray daily life from 1912 to the present day. Exhibiting the highlights of historical street photography subgenres and how they have evolved to become modern developments like social media sites and online photography platforms, this collection connects the eras in an ingenious way. 

©Milton Rogovin, Untitled, 1963. Gelatin silver print. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Gift of Dr. J. Patrick Kennedy. The Rogovin Collection

©Kozo Miyoshi, Tucson, Arizona, 1992. Gelatin silver print. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Gift of the artist, DEP'T CO.,LTD., Tokyo, Nippon Polaroid, Tsudani Oil Co. Ltd.

The showcasing of "Fashioning Self: The Photography of Everyday Expression" is a testament to the Phoenix Art Museum's commitment to excellence and innovation. Through its comprehensive collection, the exhibition explores the evolution of street photography and its relationship with self-expression, while actively engaging with visitors to explore their own artistic creation within the realm of visual culture. An inspiring exhibition, it encourages viewers to appreciate the beauty and character of their everyday lives through the lens of a camera. 

©Joan Liftin, American, 70-40, Clairsville, Ohio, 1978. Dye coupler print. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Gift of artist.

©Marion Post Wolcott, Jitterbugging in a night club. Memphis, Tennessee, 1939, 1939-11. Gelatin silver print. Center for Creative Photography, University of Arizona: Gift of John H. Wolcott. Courtesy of Linda Wolcott Moore for the Estate of Marion Post Wolcott