Photo-Crafting
Photography as Decorative Sculpture
California Museum of Photography
July 26 - September 27, 2008
Opening Reception | Saturday, July 26, 2008, 6pm - 9pm |
Drawing from a selection of photographic jewelry, household goods, and photograph albums in UCR/CMP's permanent collection, "Photo-Crafting" examines ways in which late nineteenth and early twentieth century photography was incorporated into daily life and decoration and turned that medium into three-dimensional objects. Photographs adorning cufflinks, buttons, teacups, and cloth were produced commercially and ordered through photography studios. Usually these images were portraits of loved ones, so that, for example, a husband could wear his wife's image close at hand, or a couple could have a his-and-hers set of teacups bearing their portraits. In addition to these commercially produced photographic items, individuals decorated their photograph albums, inside and out, to create an aesthetically pleasing effect for the viewer. The objects in this exhibition demonstrate an early drive to make photographs more dimensional, tangible, and personal in everyday life.
UCR/California Museum of Photography
