January 28 – April 15, 2010 at the James J. Hill and Saint Paul Central Libraries:
The Saint Paul Public Library and James J. Hill Reference Library, with the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library, presented the extraordinary black and white photographs of the acclaimed photographer Clyde Butcher for an exhibit in both libraries – “America the Beautiful: The Monumental Landscape of Clyde Butcher,” organized by Exhibits Development Group (EDG). The exhibit ran January 28 through April 15, 2010.
The exhibition on display, “America the Beautiful: The Monumental Landscape of Clyde Butcher,” consisted of 50 large-scale, black and white photographs of the American landscape, spanning beautiful sites across the United States, from the coast of Maine, to the Badlands, to Hawaii. Throughout the run of the exhibit, the public was invited to take advantage of free, related programs at libraries throughout the city and other locations, where noted.
The Artist
Clyde Butcher’s monumental photographs celebrate the beauty of the American landscape. Their scale and extraordinary clarity set them apart as exceptional works of art. In the tradition of the nineteenth-century Hudson River School painters Butcher composes his works at pristine and untarnished locations across the United States creating arresting compositions that distinctly mark him as the foremost landscape photographer in America today.
His Technique
The beauty of Clyde Butcher’s photographs is enhanced by the epic scale of his stunning black and white works. The exceptional size of his compositions – the largest being 5 by 9 feet – allows the viewer to experience the beauty of the site from an almost first-hand perspective. Their large dimensions, combined with their strong sense of fluidity and movement, allow his work to transcend the static nature of the photographic medium.
Butcher’s ingenious photographic technique enables him to capture breathtaking detail within his images. Shooting with wooden Deardorff cameras from the 1940s, he creates an extraordinary depth of field through a synthesis of wide-angled lenses and a small lens opening. The remarkably large negatives, combined with orange and blue filters and a longer-than-average exposure time (up to 10 minutes), allow for stunning clarity and astonishing detail in his compositions.
His Passion
Clyde Butcher is known nationally as an avid conservationist who uses his art to help preserve America’s environment. His most recent projects include work for Rocky Mountain National Park, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Audubon Society, The Nature Conservancy, Wilderness Society, Everglades National Park and many other environmental organizations in the state of Florida where he lives. He has been honored by innumerable organizations, including the Sierra Club, which has given him the Ansel Adams Conservation Award, and Public Broadcasting in an award-winning half-hour documentary of his work. A new PBS documentary is devoted to Butcher’s work and efforts to preserve the Everglades National Park, photographs of which also appear in the Ken Burns documentary, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea.”
Important Dates:
Exhibit Dates:
January 28-April 15, 2010
Exhibit Hours:
Monday: 12 – 8 p.m.
Tuesday through Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Sunday: 1 - 5 p.m.
Opening Reception:
Thursday, January 28, 7 p.m. with 7:30 presentation by artist Clyde Butcher
Free Related Programs
Mississippi River Series
All programs at Central Library, unless otherwise noted
Sunday, March 7, 2010 - 2 p.m.
Photographer Chris Faust’s River Pictures
Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 10 a.m.
The Nature of the River with Geologist Karen Campbell
Saturday, March 13, 2010 - 2 p.m.
The National Parks with Dan Dressler
at James J. Hill Reference Library
Saturday, March 20, 2010 - 2 p.m.
River Bird Life with Sharon Stietler
Sunday, March 21, 2010 - 2 p.m.
River Books with Pat Coleman
Saturday, March 27, 2010 - 2 p.m.
Our River Story with Pat Nunnally
Sunday, March 28, 2010 - 2 p.m.
History of the River with John Anfinson
Saturday, April 3, 2010 - 2 p.m.
A Mississippi River Walk
The Mighty Mississippi Lecture Series moves to the source when Parks Service Ranger Brian, from the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, leads a river walk and talk, beginning at the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary. Head east on Kellogg Boulevard from Central Library, right on Mounds Boulevard and right on Commercial Street. Attendees will gather in the Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary Parking Lot.
Explorer Ann Bancroft
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 - 7:30 p.m.
Join polar explorer Ann Bancroft for an evening’s presentation on her past adventures and future plans.
The Rose Ensemble
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - 7:30 p.m.
Join the Twin Cities’ premier vocal ensemble for a program on early American hymns and spirituals.
Photography Series
Visit these branch libraries for a class on basic digital or nature photography with John Pennoyer, from IFP Minnesota.
Arlington Hills Branch Library
Wednesday, April 7, 2010 - Noon
Basic Digital Photography
Central Library
Sunday, April 18, 2010 - 2 p.m.
Nature Photography
Merriam Park Branch Library
Tuesday, April 6, 2010 - 5:30 p.m.
Basic Digital Photography
Tuesday, April 13, 2010 - 5:30 p.m.
Nature Photography
Rondo Community Outreach Library
Wednesday, March 24, 2010 - 6:30 p.m.
Basic Digital Photography
Thursday, March 25, 2010 - 6:30 p.m.
Nature Photography
St. Anthony Park Branch Library
Monday, April 12, 2010 - 6 p.m.
Basic Digital Photography
Monday, April 19, 2010 - 6 p.m.
Nature Photography
Visit www.sppl.org for more information on these programs and the America the Beautiful exhibit!
This exhibition was presented by the Saint Paul Public Library and the James J. Hill Reference Library, with the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) and The Friends of the Saint Paul Public Library. Distributed by Exhibits Developments Group in cooperation with the Muscarelle Museum of Art, College of William and Mary.
The exhibit and associated programming was funded in part with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008 which dedicated funding to preserve Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage. Program Partners: Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior; and IFP MN Center for Media Arts
Media Sponsors: Pioneer Press and TwinCities.com; MinnPost.com
Exhibition lighting, track and fixtures installed by Mayer Electric.
Find out more about these and other annual events:
Women's Human Rights Film Series
For more detailed information on upcoming events at the Saint Paul Public Library, check out our program calendar, Events & Classes, jointly produced by The Friends and the Library. Events & Classes includes articles on upcoming programs and activities, highlights new services, and provides a complete monthly calendar of free programs for children and adults sponsored by the Library and The Friends. Copies of Events & Classes are available free at all Saint Paul Public Library branches, and are mailed to all Friends members. For a complimentary copy, please send a note with your address to friends@thefriends.org.
