Last week at the Legion of Honor, I had the pleasure of attending the press preview of the new "Man Ray | Lee Miller, Partners in Surrealism" show in San Francisco.
It's always great to hear the perspective of the house curator (in this case Julian Cox), but also the original curator from the Peabody Essex was there and the son of Lee Miller, all the way from England.
I have to confess I didn't know of their story, their love affair and their legacy as collaborators in photography. Hearing perspective from her son was really a special treat.
The selections of prints and sculpture shown is very poigniant and the window into their relationship, via letters to one another, showed an incredible tenderness between them.
It was also really nice to be reminded that even amazing fine photographers like Man Ray worked in commercial photography. Both were cited quite often throughout the show as to how they had to "pay the bills" by shooting for magazines, and even advertisers. She was a war photographer for Conde Nast, during WWII, after starting out as a fashion model.
There were many interesting facts and quotes along the way, but this is one I really liked:
The show runs now through October 14, so check it out if you have a chance!
www.famsf.org
