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Monterey Museum of Art opens In Sharp Focus. The Legacy of Monterey Photography

The Monterey Museum of Art presents In Sharp Focus: The Legacy of Monterey Photography, an exhibition on view June 16-September 30, 2012.

In Sharp Focus: the Legacy of Monterey Photography is the third in a series of major photography exhibitions organized by the Monterey Museum of Art. In Sharp Focus examines the Group f/64 photographers—seven innovative northern California artists including Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, and Alma Lavenson—and their continuing legacy to the Monterey Peninsula. Turning away from the expressive, soft-focused, pictorial style of photography of the early twentieth century, these artists instead delivered realism, precision, high contrast, and intense detail without interpretive manipulation. Their approach was a modernist departure of its time, which revealed the natural world as never before and transformed American photography. Complementing these legendary artists will be works by Wynn Bullock (1902-1975) and by other highly-acclaimed local photographers including Al Weber, John Sexton, Martha Casanave and Bob Kolbrener who are perpetuating the legacy by capturing the magical and evocative subjects of the Monterey region and beyond.

The success of previous exhibitions—Ansel Adams: Portrait of America (2010) and Edward Weston: American Photographer (2011)—have solidly positioned the Monterey Museum of Art as a leading authority on the history of twentieth century California photography. In Sharp Focus: the Legacy of Monterey Photography will build on this critical and popular acclaim.

Enhancing the exhibition will be educational programs and activities for adults, families and children including: docent-led tours, scholarly lectures, and the Museum’s popular Family Day and art activities for all ages.

Museum hours are Wednesday-Saturday, 11 am-5 pm, Sunday, 1-4 pm. For more information visit www.montereyart.org or call 831.372.5477.

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