Remnants: Photographs from the Disfarmer Studio
On view in the Van Deren Coke Gallery
March 25 – June 16, 2016
with an opening reception, Friday, March 25, 6 – 8 pm
Curated by Christian Waguespack
Can the traces of time be written on an object? As portraits change hands from photographer to client, from loved one to loved one, from family to gallery, what does this mean for the thing itself? Remnants: Photographs from the Disfarmer Studio looks at the material history of portraits from the Arkansas studio of Mike Disfarmer. This exhibition traces the physical life of photographs from the darkroom to the family album, to the museum archive. Each Disfarmer photograph has a long and storied personal life, far beyond the photographer’s posthumous fame.
Mike Disfarmer (American, 1884 – 1959), Untitled (Young Man in Overalls and Cap), c. 1940 – 1949, Gelatin silver contact print, 4-1/2 x 2-3/8 inches, Gift of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg, University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque, , Image Courtesy of Geistlight Photography
Mike Disfarmer (American, 1884 – 1959), Untitled (Mable Harris, Standing Woman, Arms Folded), c. 1940 – 1949, Gelatin silver contact print, 5 x 3-1/2 inches
Gift of Peter S. Chatzky, University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque, , Image Courtesy of Geistlight Photography
Mike Disfarmer (American, 1884 – 1959), Untitled (Woman in a Broad-shouldered Dress), c. 1940 – 1949, Gelatin silver contact print, 5 x 3-1/2 inches, Gift of Antony James Ellman, University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque, , Image Courtesy of Geistlight Photography
Mike Disfarmer (American, 1884 – 1959), Untitled (Troy Hensley, Thoughtful Young Woman), c. 1940 – 1949, Gelatin silver print, 9-7/8 x 7-7/8 inches, Gift of Stephen J. Nicholas, MD, University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque,
, Image Courtesy of Geistlight Photography
Mike Disfarmer (American, 1884 – 1959), Untitled (Soldier, Man, Sailor), c. 1940 – 1949, Gelatin silver contact print, 3-1/2 x 5 inches, Gift of Tim Foley, University of New Mexico Art Museum, Albuquerque, , Image Courtesy of Geistlight Photography
