Research Catalog

Details

Additional authors

1. O'Toole, Erin, 1971-
2. Thomas, Lew
3. Phillips, Donna-Lee
4. Fischer, Hal, 1950-
5. Katzman, Louise, 1949-
6. Thomas, Lew
7. Phillips, Donna-Lee
8. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, host institution

Description

1. 212 pages : illustrations (some color), facsimiles, portraits; 31 cm

Summary

1. In the early 1970s, Lew Thomas set out to disrupt photography in San Francisco. Tired of the mystical thinking and emotionalism that had underscored Bay Area photography since the 1940s, Thomas pursued a photographic practice grounded in ideas gleaned from conceptual art and Structuralist philosophy. A cohort of other photographers, including Donna-Lee Phillips and Hal Fischer, embraced Thomas' mission, joining him in what became known as the 'Photography and Language' movement, named after a book and group exhibition of the same title produced by Thomas in 1976. Thomas, Phillips and Fischer were all extremely active in the mid to late 1970s. In addition to making their own artwork, they published essays, reviewed shows and organized exhibitions. Under the name NFS Press, Thomas published a number of books designed by Phillips, including 'Structural(ism) and Photography' (1978), which featured Thomas' work; 'Eros and Photography' (1977), which was edited by Phillips, and two books of Fischer's work: 'Gay Semiotics' (1978) and '18th Near Castro Street x 24' (1979). This volume assesses their work, their relationship to one another and their place in the history of photography in the 1970s.

Alternative title

1. Thought pieces : nineteen seventies photographs by Lew Thomas, Donna-Lee Phillips, and Hal Fischer
2. 1970s photographs by Lew Thomas, Donna-Lee Phillips, and Hal Fischer

Subject

1. Thomas, Lew -- Exhibitions.
2. Thomas, Lew -- Interviews.
3. Phillips, Donna-Lee -- Exhibitions.
4. Fischer, Hal, 1950- -- Exhibitions.
5. Fischer, Hal, 1950- -- Interviews.
6. San Francisco Museum of Modern Art -- Photograph collections -- Exhibitions.
7. Photography, Artistic -- 20th century -- Exhibitions.
8. Literature and photography -- Exhibitions.
9. Photography -- California -- San Francisco -- Exhibitions.
10. Photograph collections -- California -- San Francisco -- Exhibitions.
11. Literature and photography.
12. Photography.
13. Photography, Artistic.
14. California -- San Francisco.

Genre/Form

1. Exhibition catalogs.
2. History.

Owning institution

1. Princeton University Library

Language

1. English

Note

1. Published in conjunction with an exhibition held at The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, January 4 to August 9, 2020.
2. "In conversation: Lew Thomas and Louise Katzman"--Page 3.

Bibliography (note)

1. Includes bibliographical references.