The public are invited to a historic exhibition of photography, launching at HIP (Hull International Photography) Gallery, Upper Deck, Princes Quay Shopping Centre, Hull, on Friday 1st May 6.30pm-8.30pm. The exhibition is suitable for photography lovers of all ages and is free of charge.
In 1898 Frank A Rinehart was commissioned to make portraits of the tribal leaders attending the Indian Congress taking place in Omaha.
In the following 2 years he travelled the country visiting Native American reservations and photographing those leaders who had not attended the Congress, as well recording other aspects of life for the Indigenous American peoples.
This collection is widely considered to be the finest of its kind from this period; it is believed to be responsible for changing the European American view of the indigenous population.
The works represent a step change in both photography and ethno-photography.
Darren Squires (Projects Coordinator at Creative and Cultural Co.) said: “Looking at these portraits, it is difficult to believe that we are separated from the sitters by more than a century. There is an immediacy and humanity that belies their age.”
After the launch, the exhibition can be seen at the HIP Gallery daily 12 noon until 5pm Monday to Saturday, and 12 noon until 4pm on Sundays.
Why is it called the Open Culture First Exhibition?
Alan Raw (CEO of Creative and Cultural Co.) explained: “There is a vast amount of culture that is free and accessible, either because it has fallen into the public domain or because the artist has decided to forego their copyright, and to open up the work to be used with little or no restrictions.
"Art that is free is not art that is worthless. Like all art it's true value lies in what it adds to the culture stock and how it enhances the individual.
"Artists decide to free their art for a variety of reasons; for the public good, because they have found another way to earn money from the art or because they fear obscurity more than poverty (not that many artists become wealthy through their endeavours).
Most works of art, however or whyever they are created will eventually fall into the public realm, where they become part of our common treasury; to be used, re-purposed and disseminated for the public benefit. We owe it to those artists to make use of their work, to celebrate it and to ensure that the best of it remains a valid and valued part of our cultural heritage.”
To celebrate this, we will be hosting an Open Culture conference session at Hull International Photography Festival in October, to discuss the value of art in the public domain and the opportunities, attitudes and issues that surround it. To start the conversations, we are launching an exhibition of work by Frank A Rinehart in the HIP Gallery on Friday 1st May at 6.30pm.
