Gallery features Gottfried’s photos

As part of African-American History Month activities, MTSU’s Baldwin Photographic Gallery will feature the works of New York-based Arlene Gottfried from now through Feb. 27 in the McWherter Learning Resource Center.

“The Eternal Light” exhibit in Murfreesboro is comprised of 25 cibachrome images measuring 16 x 20-inches that were selected from her book of the same title,” Jimison said. “These images feature gospel singers in Harlem. In addition, 25 13 x 19-inch giclee prints from Gottfried’s “MIDNIGHT” series will be included.”

According to biographical information Gottfried submitted to Jimison, she was born in Brooklyn and now lives and works as a photographer in New York City. She said she selected photography in college because she did not want to sit in a classroom listening to a teacher lecture.

Her father gave her a 35 mm camera that had been left to them by her uncle. Gottfried then began instinctively to take pictures of people on the street in their neighborhood and taking photographs of her friends and friends and family much like she does today.

Gottfried graduated from Fashion Institute of Technology, and went to work as a photographer’s assistant, although there was much discrimination in the male-dominated field and often being told she would not be able to do the work. She finally landed a position as a photographer in an advertising agency.

After a trip to Cuba, Gottfried left her staff job and became a freelance photographer, and showed her personal photographs she would print in her spare time. This eventually brought her assignments from The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Fortune, Life, The London Independent and Rolling Stone.

Gottfried’s photographs have been exhibited internationally at the FNAC Galleries in Paris, Leica in New York and Tokyo and The Museum of the City of New York. Her photographs are in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum, Maison Europeene de la Photographie, the New York Public Library and others.

The exhibit will be displayed in the LRC during the following hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday; 8 to 11:45 a.m. Saturdays; and 6 to 9 p.m. Sundays. The exhibit will be closed Jan. 19 and 20. The exhibition and lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, call Jimison at 615-898-2085.