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The Chrysler Presents A New Perspective on the Civil War
with Two Extraordinary Photography Exhibitions

Period photographs by Alexander Gardner, Mathew Brady, and others are exhibited alongside contemporary Civil War-themed pinhole photographs by Willie Anne Wright
through October 29, 2006

The Civil War continues to be a subject of endless fascination for Americans and the world; and fueling this attraction is the fact that it was the first war to be extensively photographed. Beginning on February 3 and continuing through October 29, 2006, the Chrysler Museum makes another key contribution to the lore and understanding of that period with two compelling offerings.

Peter S. Weaver (American, 1835-1906) Embalming Tent at Camp Letterman, Gettysburg, October or November 1863, Albumen print Gift of David L. Hack and by exchange Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.

The first, Civil War Photographs from the David L. Hack Collection, features 50 photographs from the major collection acquired in 1998 and consisting of more than 300 images. In appreciation, the Chrysler renamed a permanent photography gallery in honor of Mr. Hack, and made a commitment to keep Civil War photography continually on view in that gallery. Although the collection contains such icons as Alexander Gardner’s classic photograph Lincoln and Tad, most of the other works have rarely if ever been published or exhibited. Among the facets that make this collection unique is its assortment of print sizes and shapes, as well as its wide range of subjects, including haunting images of Andersonville and Gardner’s dramatic series of the hanging of the Lincoln conspirators in 1865.

Since acquiring the collection, the Chrysler has systematically submitted 33 of the photographs for conservation, with the primary concern of ensuring their longevity. As an additional benefit, much of the yellowing which often occurs with 19th-century albumen photographs is lessened during treatment. (One of the revelations during the conservation process was the discovery that some of the photographs were not albumen prints, but much rarer salted paper prints.)

To maintain authenticity, the Chrysler has elected to show the photographs on their original mounts, allowing visitors to enjoy the original context of the photos as they were presented during the 19th century.

See The Virginian-Pilot's coverage of the story including additional photographs.

Watch curator Brooks Johnson in a video preview of the exhibition.

Willie Anne Wright (American, b. 1924) USCT Members with an American Flag, 1995 Sepia toned gelatin-silver print Gift of the Artist

This extraordinary collection of period photographs is complemented by the contemporary Civil War Redux: Pinhole Photographs by Willie Anne Wright, featuring pinhole photographs by Virginia photographer Willie Anne Wright. Pinhole photographs are created when light, reflecting off of a subject and entering a darkened enclosed box through a tiny hole – the “pinhole” – creates an inverted visible image of that subject which registers on a surface parallel to the plane of the pinhole. This method requires longer exposure times, eight seconds in bright sun, and when light-sensitive photographic materials are placed on that parallel plane, the image is then recorded.

Using this process, Wright followed “the troops” – Civil War re-enactors – to many major re-enactments. The Describing her work, Wright says, “I felt an affinity with the photographers of the mid-19th century whose use of wet plate photography was equally time-consuming. My subjects, as those of Mathew Brady and others of the period, did not include battle action. I concentrated on capturing camp scenes, picturing impressions of personages both famous and little known, medical and death- related images, and portrayals of widows. My approach was even-handed. The images include those of men and women, Caucasian and African American, Yankees and Rebels.”

“For Art’s Sake” – the Chrysler’s young affiliate group – will host an opening party for the exhibitions on Thursday, February 2, 2006, from 6-9 p.m., at the first of their Warm It! series at the Chrysler.

These photography exhibitions are generously underwritten by the Family of Alice and Sol B. Frank. The Museum would also like to thank For Art’s Sake: The Young Affiliates of the Chrysler for providing additional sponsorship.

For general information, please call (757) 664-6200. For media information, please contact the Public Relations Department at (757) 333-6295 or publicrelations@chrysler.org.