Author: Dylan Bos-Dowlen
Though museums are often thought to be archaic and boring, the Annenberg Space for Photography is anything but: it is a center for recent photographs that demand awe, reflection and enjoyment.
The Annenberg, which opened in spring 2009, is located in Century City and is currently holding an exhibit that focuses on the Pictures of the Year international. These pictures, taken by photojournalists across the world, depict a variety of climactic, dangerous, simple, degrading and joyful events in a beautifully silent yet powerful way. These photos include images of the homeless struggling to survive, world leaders inspiring their people, athletes striving for victory, the turmoil that torments us in our nightmares and glorified images of normal life.
President and CEO of the Annenberg Foundation, Wallis Annenberg, has said, “Photography is one of the most accessible and personal forms of art. We see the creation of the Annenberg Space for Photography as a service to the community where visitors can see the world through a different lens and leave feeling motivated to make positive change.”
The decor of the Annenberg possesses the usual modern ambiance. Its sheer walls and abundance of glass allow rays of light to shine through from every possibly angle. Sleek HDTVs are also built into brightly colored walls.
Becca Miller (sophomore) described the effectiveness of the ambiance: “What struck me about the Annenberg Space was its determination to let the photographs speak for themselves. The minimalism and intimacy of the building focused attention solely on the photographs, which made them all the more compelling and affecting.”
The whole layout of the Space is designed to loosely replicate the convex lens of a camera. The outside is a square while the inner wall is a lens-shaped circle containing the focal point of the exhibit. The self-guided tour begins around the outside with choice prints of vivid pictures. Here, there are a couple state of the art touch screen table tops, allowing guests to preview, play with and personally enjoy each and every picture provided by the museum.
Finally, the path reaches the inner sanctum. In this reflective cove, take a seat and allow a stream of thousands of pictures to flow over you on a stunning 7′ x 14′ screen with a 4k resolution that exceeds even Blu-Ray resolution – bathing you in color, emotion and culture.
This sea of slideshows and videos, even including some of the photographers’ personal thoughts, is the true gem of the Annenberg. Here, the imagination can run wild, creating stories for each and every picture, making a visit to the Annenberg a truly interactive and stimulating experience.
The Annenberg is aiming to create a cultural hotspot that celebrates all aspects of photography. So far, it has reached that goal, so much so that Nancy Reagan chose to stop by for a visit on Aug. 26. An ex-president’s wife ranks as a relatively important visitor to a newly opened museum for photography.
The Annenberg keeps you coming back by changing its exhibits every two to three months. Providing a clear view of the outside world, the Annenberg is a must see for a college student stuck in the world of academia, forgetting that there is a world outside of the books.
For more information about the Annenberg Space for Photography, visit www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org.
This article has been archived, for more requests please contact us via the support system.
