Colorama: [Formerly] The World’s Largest Photographs  

George Eastman House announced today that a reproduction of a Colorama image is being installed adjacent to its new Thomas Tischer Visitor Center, which will open to the public on Saturday, October 10. An image of the Taj Mahal, made by Don Marvin in June 1964 was installed in Grand Central Terminal from June 2 to July 9, 1986. 

Billed as “The World's Largest Photographs,” Eastman Kodak's 18-by-60-foot Coloramas brought photography to the masses with a spectacular display of communicative power. During its 40-year run in Grand Central Terminal in New York City, the Colorama program presented a panoramic photo album of American scenes and lifestyles, and travel views, from the second half of the twentieth century.

Above: Trail Ride in the Grand Tetons, Wyoming by John Hood and Herb Archer, October 1964 

Between 1950 and 1990, a new Colorama was installed every few weeks, resulting in a total of 565 colossal transparencies. The Colorama advertising campaign ended in 1990 as Grand Central Terminal prepared for renovations that would restore the original architectural integrity of the landmark building.

Each giant transparency was destroyed after display, but in 2010 the Eastman Kodak Company donated the original photographic negatives, transparencies, and guide prints used to create them to the George Eastman Museum, which has carefully preserved these objects.

The book, Colorama: The World’s Largest Photographs (Aperture, with the essay, “Picture Perfect” by Peggy Roalf) explores the history of these colossal images. A selection of the most striking images are included, making these images available to viewers curious about American life in the booming ‘50s, as well as people with a personal connection to the original display in Grand Central Station.

Field Notes: Several DART subscribers emailed their news of the week, as follows

Barbara Nessim, one of America’s digital art pioneers, from 1981-83 installed as Time, Inc.’s digital Artist in Residence, has been elected to Society of Illustrators Hall of Fame. Since 1958, the Society of Illustrators has elected to its Hall of Fame artists recognized for their distinguished achievement in the art of illustration. 

Right: Barbara Nessim, Pink, White and Blue, ca. 1982

At the virtual awards ceremony, hosted live from the Society Illustrators on Thursday, October 8, beginning at 6 pm, viewers will enjoy mini-documentaries and words from some of these legendary icons in illustration as they accept their award from the comfort and safety of their homes. Timed tickets, $25, here

Dan Bejar, NYC-based artist and illustrator, has been awarded a 2020 Socrates Annual Fellowship and will be represented in the exhibition Monuments Now: Call and Response, at Socrates Sculpture Park, starting October 10. The exhibition runs through March 2021. See the feature in DART.

Left: Dan Bejar, Good Guys with Guns, for Harpers

Klay-James Enos, a painter and set designer based in Long Island City, will be represented in Art is the Cure, a group show opening October 9^th at One Art Space. The show will feature the finest New York and international emerging and seasoned artists and their paintings, drawings, photography, sculpture and mixed media pieces. 

One Art Space, at 23 Warren Street, NYC, has hosted famous creatives such as, Spike Lee, 50 Cent and Al Diaz. This is the 3rd art show Start Shows has created in partnership with One Art Space since 2019. Tickets to the show are donation based (you can give what you wish) with 50% of the proceeds going towards ArtsFund Covid19 relief fund (more info can be found on their website)

Parallel Adaptations, curated by Debra Klomp Ching, presents thesis work by SVA MPS Digital Photography 2020 graduates organized by the Dumbo-based  gallerist and SVA faculty member. The exhibition showcases these artists' commitment to continuous progress and the importance of community amidst a global pandemic. Recurring themes across the exhibition include the questioning of personal/cultural identity, ideas of imminent loss juxtaposed with reconnection, the struggle between humankind and nature, the value of familial relationships and the potential stability of tradition. The online exhibition runs through November 21 here.