John Szarkowski and Wind Point Light: Difference between pages

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'''John Szarkowski''' (b. December [[1925]], [[Ashland, Wisconsin|Ashland]], [[Wisconsin]]) is an influential [[photography]] [[curator]], historian, and critic. He is also a photographer. From [[1962]] to [[1991]] Szarkowski was the Director of Photography at [[New York City|New York]]'s [[Museum of Modern Art]].

| image_name = WindPoint.jpg

| caption = Wind Point Lighthouse

| ___location = Racine, Wisconsin

| coordinates = {{coor dms|42|46|52|N|87|45|30.2|W|region:US_type:landmark}}

| yearlit =

| automated =

| yeardeactivated =

| foundation =

| construction =

| shape =

| height = 112 feet

| lens = DCB-24R Aerobeacon

| range = 19 miles

| characteristic =

}}

'''Wind Point Lighthouse''' is an active aid to navigation located at the north end of [[Racine, Wisconsin|Racine]] Harbor in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Wisconsin]]. Designed by [[Orlando Poe|Orlando Metcalfe Poe,]] it was constructed in 1880.

It is one of the oldest active [[lighthouse]]s on the [[Great Lakes]]. The beacon, originally powered by third order [[fresnel lens]], was replaced by a DCB-24R Aerobeacon in 1964. The light can be seen for 19 miles.

He grew up in the small northern Wisconsin city of Ashland, and became interested in photography at age eleven. In [[World War II]] Szarkowski served in the [[U.S. Army]], after which he graduated in [[1948]] in [[Art History]] from the [[University of Wisconsin-Madison|University of Wisconsin]]. He then began his career as a museum photographer at the [[Walker Art Center]], [[Minneapolis]]. At this time he was also a practicing art photographer; he had his first solo show at the Walker Art Center in [[1949]], the first of a number of solo exhibitions. In [[1954]] Szarkowski received the first of two [[Guggenheim]] fellowships, resulting in the book ''The Idea of [[Louis Sullivan]]'' ([[1956]]). Between [[1958]] and [[1962]] he returned to rural Wisconsin. There he undertook a second Guggenheim fellowship in [[1961]], researching into ideas about wilderness and the relationship between people and the land.

The lighthouse stands 112 feet tall. It is on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (Reference #84003780).

Then, in [[1962]], he was personally picked by [[Edward Steichen]] to be Steichen's successor at the Museum of Modern Art. When he arrived in New York, not a single gallery in the city showed [[fine art photography]]. He launched the careers of [[Garry Winogrand]], [[Diane Arbus]], and [[Lee Friedlander]].

Located on Lighthouse Road, next to the Shoop Park golf course, it is set on a sprawling lawn overlooking Racine Harbor. A signal house (horns removed) remains on the grounds as well as a garage, 2 storage buildings and an oil house. The Wind Point Police maintain offices in the attached building.

In [[1974]] Szarkowski published ''Looking at Photographs'' a practical set of examples on how to write about photographs. The book is still required reading for students of art photography, and argues for the importance of looking carefully and bringing to bear every bit of intelligence and understanding possessed by the viewer. Szarkowski has also published numerous books on individual photographers, including, with Maria Morris Hambourg, the definitive four-volume work on the photography of [[Eugene Atget|Atget]].

He has taught at [[Harvard]], [[Yale]], [[Cornell University|Cornell]], and [[New York University]], and continues to lecture and teach. In [[1990]], U.S. News & World Report said: ''"Szarkowski's thinking, whether Americans know it or not, has become our thinking about photography".''

==External Links ==

In [[1991]] Szarkowski retired from his post at the New York Museum of Modern Art, during which he had developed a reputation for being somewhat autocratic, and became the Museum's Photography Director Emeritus. He was succeeded by Peter Galassi, Chief Curator.

* [http://www.lighthousefriends.com/light.asp?ID=242 Lighthouse Friends]

* [http://www.lighthouseratings.com/WindPoint/ Lighthouse Ratings]

In retirement Szarkowski returned to making his own photographic work, mostly attempting to picture a [[spirit of place]] in the American landscape. In [[2005]] he had several major solo exhibitions across the USA. The first retrospective of his work exhibited at MOMA in early 2006.[http://moma.org/exhibitions/2006/szarkowski.html]

* [http://www.cr.nps.gov/maritime/light/windpt.htm NPS Inventory of Historic Light Stations]

{{Wisconsin-struct-stub}}

There is a 48-minute documentary on his life and work: ''John Szarkowski: A Life in Photography'' (Checkerboard, 1998). There is also a 60-minute film of a lecture in which he talks about his own photography: ''Speaking of Art: John Szarkowski on John Szarkowski'' (Checkerboard, 2005).

[[Category:Lighthouses in Wisconsin]]

[[Category:Racine, Wisconsin]]

==Key works:==

The tower is 108 feet tall with a 111 foot focal plane.

===Criticism===

* ''Looking at Photographs'' (1974, 1999)

*''The Photographer's Eye'' (1966)

===Photographic works===

* ''John Szarkowski: Photographs'' (2005)

* ''Mr. Bristol's Barn'' (1997)

* ''The Face of Minnesota'' (1958)

* ''The Idea of Louis Sullivan'' (1956)

==Interviews==

* Andy Grundberg. "An Interview with John Szarkowski". ''Afterimage'', No. 12 (October 1984), pages 12-13.

* "An interview with John Szarkowski". ''Modern Painters'' (Spring 2004).

* Hilton Als. "Looking at Pictures" (interview with John Szarkowski). ''Grand Street'', No. 59, page 102.

* [[Mark Haworth-Booth]]. "An Interview with John Szarkowski". ''History of Photography'', Vol. 15, No. 4 (1991), pages 302–306.

*[http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/feature/-/196180/104-3497332-0534348 Exclusive Amazon.com interview with: "The leading photography curator and critic of our time, John Szarkowski"].

[[Category:American curators|Szarkowski, John]]

[[Category:American photographers|Szarkowski, John]]

[[Category:1925 births|Szarkowski, John]]

[[Category:Living people|Szarkowski, John]]

[[Category:Photography critics|Szarkowski, John]]