Contact: Thomas Moore
Director of Arts & Culture
410-455-3370
tmoore@umbc.edu

Note: You may view or download this release as a pdf file.

The Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery presents The Creative Photograph in Archaeology, opening on September 10th and continuing through December 10th. The exhibition brings together for the first time new ways of seeing archaeological sites, monuments and sculpture, from the invention of photography to the present day. The work of such influential photographers as Robertson, Konstantinou, Stillman, Boissonnas, Hege, List, Hellner and Mavrommatis shows new tendencies in the representation of antiquities, and suggests a new way of seeing beyond the obvious and revealing the creative presence of the photographer.

This unprecedented exhibition is curated by Costis Antoniadis, professor of photography at the Technological Educational Institution of Athens, and organized by Socrates Mavrommatis, chief photographer of the Acropolis Restoration Service and the Benaki Museum in Athens, in collaboration with Professor Katherine Schwab, associate professor of Art History in the Fairfield University Department of Visual and Performing Arts.

The collection includes more than 70 stunningly dramatic black and white framed prints featuring Greek antiquities that have been produced from high resolution scans of the original negatives. The exhibition is divided into five units that span 150 years and visually portray the bold story of the delicate balance between documentation and creative vision in photographs with antiquities as the subject--from the first photographic attempts of the early travelers in the 19th century through the sophisticated work of the late 20th to early 21st century.

Mr. Mavrommatis explained, "We are very fortunate to be able to display photographs of the finest quality, as the photographers would have demanded." He continued, "In organizing the exhibition I followed the work of photographers that attempted to impose a new approach over a long period of time. I made choices that serve two purposes: the abilities of archaeological photography to emphasize its artistic contribution and the photographer's ability to combine his own view of the same information."

In discussing the decision to use photographs of exclusively Greek antiquities, Mr. Mavrommatis noted, "Each place has its own fascination, each site is different and these differences clearly affected each photographer's aesthetic and emotional approach." He added, "Greece is the only place where all the photographers represented in the exhibition worked and, clearly, location and culture are shared by all. We can see vividly how each photographer's individual artistic approach differs from one another."

A tour of the exhibition will be given by Dr. Richard Mason of the UMBC Department of Ancient Studies at 4:00 pm on October 22.

Gallery Information
The Albin O. Kuhn Gallery serves as one of the principal art galleries in the Baltimore region. Objects from the Special Collections Department, as well as art and artifacts from all over the world, are displayed in challenging and informative exhibitions for the University community and the public. Moreover, traveling exhibitions are occasionally presented, and the Gallery sends some exhibits on tour to other institutions nationwide. Admission to the Gallery and its programs is free.

Acknowledgements
The presentation of this exhibition is supported in part by a program grant from the Maryland State Arts Council, an agency funded by the State of Maryland and the National Endowment for the Arts, the Baltimore County Commission on Arts & Sciences.

Hours
Sunday: 1 P.M. – 5 P.M.
Monday: 12 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Tuesday: 12 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Wednesday: 12 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Thursday: 12 P.M. – 8 P.M.
Friday: 12 P.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Saturday: 1 P.M. – 5 P.M.

Telephone
UMBC Artsline (24 hour recorded message): 410-455-ARTS
General Gallery information: 410-455-2270

Web
UMBC Arts & Culture Calendar: http://www.umbc.edu/arts
Albin O. Kuhn Library Gallery: http://aok.lib.umbc.edu/gallery/
UMBC News Releases: http://www.umbc.edu/news

Images for Media
High resolution images for media are available online:
http://www.umbc.edu/newsevents/arts/hi-res/
or by email or postal mail.
Images in this release:
James Robertson, The temple of Olympian Zeus from the W, 1853-54, © Benaki Museum
Walter Hege, The Acropolis from the W, 1928-29, © German Archaeological Institute at Athens
William James Stillman, The Athenian Acropolis and the temple of Olympian Zeus from the SE, 1869, Source: Gennadius Library, American School of Classical Studies at Athens

Directions
UMBC is located approximately 10 minutes from downtown Baltimore and 20 minutes from I-495.
-- From Baltimore and points north, proceed south on I-95 to exit 47B. Take Route 166 toward Catonsville and then follow signs to the Walker Avenue Garage or Albin O. Kuhn Library.
-- From I-695, take Exit 12C (Wilkens Avenue) and continue one-half mile to the entrance of UMBC at the intersection of Wilkens Avenue and Hilltop Road. Turn left and follow signs to the Walker Avenue Garage or Albin O. Kuhn Library.
-- From Washington and points south, proceed north on I-95 to Exit 47B. Take Route 166 toward Catonsville and then follow signs to the Walker Avenue Garage or Albin O. Kuhn Library.
-- Daytime metered visitor parking is available in the Walker Avenue Garage. Visitor parking regulations are enforced on all University calendar days.