Photographing for the catalogue

By: Eva Fognell, Curator of the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art

We are sending 111 objects as part of the show and if anyone of you has read any of my blogs you know that one of the preparation phases for many of the objects have been a date with a conservator. Then on to condition reporting and photographing the objects and then in another month or so, art handlers and packers will be here to work their magic packing and crating the collection. Exciting and nerve wracking all at the same time just thinking about the treasures out of my sight.

There is also a catalogue to accompany the exhibit The Thaw Collection: Masterpieces of American Indian Art. It will be about 120 -125 pages with new scholarship essays by leading authorities in the field of American Indian art, Janet Berlo, Aldona Jonaitis, and Ruth Phillips just to mention a few. In addition there will large color images and a short text to accompany each object.

Today I want to show you some images from the process of photographing the collection. Richard Walker was here for a whole day photographing objects for the catalogue. The catalogue is being designed by Nadeau Designs, a Utica based design company and Richard Nadeau was also here during the photo shoot. We had a great day playing with outfits, bowls and war helmets just to name a few things being photographed. In most catalogues you will have one photo of lets say a particular bowl documenting the piece. One of the things we are trying to do here is to show the dish from a few different angles. Here are a few photos from our day. As we are working to bring out the translucent qualities in the amazing Dall mountain sheep horn dish. When I get the professional photos I’ll post them for you all to see.