Positively Philadelphia: Exhibition of Richard Avedon Photography
By Lauren Lipton
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. (CBS) -- You may already be familiar with Richard Avedon's celebrity and fashion photography, but a new exhibit, "Family Affairs," can only be seen at the National Museum of American Jewish History, on Independence Mall.
"Family Affairs features remarkable work, much of it on loan from the Israel Museum, in Jerusalem," notes Josh Perelman, chief curator and director of exhibitions and collections at the museum. "(There are) a series of group portraits: a large mural of Allen Ginsberg and his family; Andy Warhol and his assistants at The Factory; a photo of Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller, who was married to Monroe; and a series commissioned by Rolling Stone in 1976, called 'The Family,' in which Avedon created a very complex portrait of American power at the time of our bicentennial."
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Perelman (in photo above) say visitors to the museum are also invited to join the show.
"Anybody who comes to the exhibition is welcome to have their own portrait taken. We actually have a photo booth. You can take a portrait of yourself home, and also leave a portrait of yourself to be included as part of the exhibition."
There are also pictures of Avedon when he was a kid: with his photography club in Central Park, a school picture of Avedon and his close friend James Baldwin, and a film from an early exhibition of Avedon's work.
Hear Lauren Lipton's extended interview with Josh Perelman in this CBS Philly podcast (runs 9:26)...
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"Richard Avedon: Family Affairs" runs through August 2nd at the National Museum of American Jewish History, at 5th and Market Streets in Old City.
And for this week, that's "Positively Philadelphia!"
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