‘The Radical Camera,’ a History of the Photo League
The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League, 1936-1951
November 04, 2011 – March 25, 2012
An exhibit of the photographs taken by members of the Photo League opens at The Jewish Museum this week, and runs through March 25th, 2012.
Included in the exhibit are photographs by Ruth Orkin, and her husband, Morris Engel.
There is a very nice photo essay about the exhibit in the NY Times, you can see the Photo League images here.
Moment in Time: A snapshot of sexism or a portrait of composure?
Ninalee Craig holding the image she appeared in, taken 60 years ago. (Photo: Globe and Mail)
There’s a very good article, by John Allemang over at Toronto’s Globe and Mail website, about An American Girl in Italy.
The article features some great commentary from Ninalee Craig (formerly Jinx Allen), the woman who appears in the iconic image by Ruth Orkin — and who now lives in Toronto, where the 60th anniversary celebration of the picture is taking place August 13- August 27, 2011.
American Girl in Italy, 60th Anniversary
Stephen Bulger Gallery
1026 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON Canada M6J 1H6
Exhibition Dates: August 13- August 27, 2011
Reception: Saturday, August 20th, 2-5pm
Film Screenings: Saturday, August 20th, 3pm
August 22, 2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the photograph “American Girl in Italy” by Ruth Orkin (1921-1985). The subject of this famous photograph is Ninalee Craig (then known as Jinx Allen), who lives in Toronto, so the official celebrations marking the occasion will be hosted by Stephen Bulger Gallery.
The gallery will be exhibiting a selection of photographs taken in 1951, in Florence, after a chance meeting between Orkin and Jinx Allen, a painter and fellow American. The two were talking about their shared experiences traveling alone as young single women, when Orkin had an idea. “Come on,” she said, “lets go out and shoot pictures of what it’s really like.” In the morning, while the Italian women were inside preparing lunch, Jinx gawked at statues, asked military officials for directions, fumbled with lire and flirted in cafes while Orkin photographed her. Orkin’s best known image, “American Girl in Italy” was also created as part of this series.
Ruth Orkin was 17 when she took a cross-country trip by herself, bicycling and hitchhiking from her home in Los Angeles to New York, snapping pictures along the way. She later moved to New York, where this spirit of adventure continued. She photographed Tanglewood’s summer music festival, honed her craft in nightclubs, joined the Photo League, and with her first published story in Look magazine, became “a full- fledged photojournalist.” In 1951, Life sent her on assignment to Israel and from there she went to Italy.
Mary Engel, Director of both her parents’ archives (Ruth Orkin / Morris Engel Film and Photo Archive), and Ninalee Craig will be present at Stephen Bulger Gallery for a public reception on Saturday, August 20th from 2-5pm. At 3pm, we will use CAMERA’s screening room for Mary to introduce these two films:
RUTH ORKIN: FRAMES OF LIFE (USA: 1995), 18 min. An award winning documentary about the life and work of Ruth Orkin; it includes interviews with Cornell Capa, Mary Ellen Mark and Ninalee Craig. Written, Produced and Directed by Mary Engel.
LITTLE FUGITIVE (USA: 1953), 80 min. Produced by Morris Engel and Ray Ashley Written and Directed by Morris Engel, Ruth Orkin and Ray Ashley
Ruth Orkin + Morris Engel Exhibit in Valladolid, Spain
Together, Ruth Orkin and Morris Engel documented everyday life in the streets of New York in the 50′s. For the first time in Europe, their work can be admired in Valladolid.
The exhibit runs from January 12 – February 20, 2011, at the Fundacion de Municipal de Cultura (FMC), Sala Municipal de Exposiciones de San Benito Valladolid, Spain. The exhibition features the work of documentary photographers and filmmakers Ruth Orkin and Morris Engel.
More info can be found here. (Spanish language link)
November 2010
Currently, Ruth Orkin is included in a group show at the Bruce Silverstein Gallery in Chelsea. The show is called BEYOND COLOR: 1950 – 1970, which was from September 16 – October 23, 2010.
Mary Engel was interviewed on www.progressiveradionetwork.com, on October 15, 2010, on Virginia Reed’s show, A Women’s Perspective. It is currently available on the archives section of the website.
Mary Engel’s article “What To Do With All The Photographs?” published in the Fall 2009 American Photography Archives Group magazine. You can download a PDF of the article here.