American Vernacular
American Vernacular
Photography Study Space
ongoing
The photographs in this exhibition are united by the artists’ interest in American vernacular architecture, the common building style of a particular period or place. Neal Rantoul’s photographs of houses in a Portland, Maine neighborhood are part
of his “American Series” images. Rantoul uses light, shadow, and a variety of perspectives to highlight architectural details of turn-of-the century New England clapboard houses. Jim Dow, in his travels across the United States, documents those places where people enact everyday rituals. These structures, like the drive-in and motel seen here, speak to eccentric architectural types that are vanishing from the commercial landscape. Robert Cottingham’s color photographs focus on urban iconography that he finds during bus trips across America. The artist isolates and emphasizes details which typically go unnoticed by radically cropping the image. Many of these photographs serve as sources for Cottingham’s photorealist paintings.
Image: Robert Cottingham, SCHWINN, 1985, 10 x 8", Cibachrome print, Gift of Arlette and Gus Kayafas
Bank of America’s Museums on Us™
DeCordova is proud to be a participant in Bank of America’s Museums on Us™ program. All visitors who present a valid Bank of America ATM, debit or credit card, along with photo identification will receive free general admission to DeCordova’s campus on the first weekend of each month through April 2009. This program excludes special events.
For a complete listing of DeCordova’s programs, visit the Calendar section.
General Information: DeCordova is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am to 5 pm and on selected Monday holidays. General admission during Museum hours is $12 for adults, $8 for senior citizens, students, and youth ages 6–12. Children age 5 and under, Lincoln residents, and Active Duty Military Personnel and their dependents are admitted free. The Sculpture Park is open year round during daylight hours. The Store @ DeCordova and the School Gallery are open Monday through Thursday, 9:30 am to 7:30 pm , Friday through Saturday, 9:30 am to 5:30 pm , and Sunday 10:30 am to 5:30 pm . The Café @ DeCordova is open Tuesday from noon to 3 pm, and Wednesday through Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm. Guided public tours of the Museum’s main galleries take place every Thursday at 1 and Sunday at 2 pm. Tours of the Sculpture Park are given on Saturday and Sunday at 1 pm from May to Oct. All guided public tours are free with Campus admission. Visit www.decordova.org or call 781/259-8355 for further information.
