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Columbus Museum of Art Opens Instagram Exhibition

Embracing technology and the power of social media, the Columbus Museum of Art presents the first museum exhibition generated by Instagram. On view from October 12, 2012.


Photo by Nick Carron (@urbancurse), Columbus Museum of Art

CMA used its critically acclaimed exhibition The Radical Camera: New York’s Photo League, 1936 – 1951 as the inspiration for a social media campaign encouraging people to “become a modern-day Photo Leaguer by participating in Columbus Museum of Art Photo Hunts.” The result is an exhibition of more than 30 works, each taken using the popular Instagram app, on view in CMA’s Community Gallery.

The first photo assignment was posted in early June with new prompts each week through early September. The “hunts” were inspired by the Photo League, a group of young photographers who took to the streets between the 1930s and 1950s with their cameras just as photography was becoming recognized as an art, and magazines such as Life and Look were forming. Artists in the Photo League were known for capturing sharply revealing, compelling moments from everyday life. Photo Hunts were their way of giving themselves creative challenges, and having fun.

During Photo Hunts, Photo Leaguers were sent out to capture a word or phrase, then their work was developed, and they’d gather to critique and celebrate. The Museum asked people to capture ideas like contrast, joy, and submit their photos to CMA via Instagram. CMA’s William and Sarah Ross Soter Curator of Photography Catherine Evans, combed through the more than 800 photo submissions to select the works that best illustrated the assignment.

The Columbus Museum of Art creates great experiences with great art for everyone. The Greater Columbus Arts Council, Nationwide Foundation, Ohio Arts Council, and the Charlotte R. Haller, Lewis K. Osborne, and Robert B. Hurst funds of The Columbus Foundation provide ongoing support. CMA and the Museum Store are open Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM, and until 8:30 PM every Thursday. The Palette Express is open Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM and 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM Saturday and Sunday. For additional information, call 614.221.4848 or visit www.columbusmuseum.org