Ellis to present photography lecture

Ellis to present photography lecture

Feb.13, 2001

By Debbie White
Cortez Cultural Center

Richard Ellis will present a slide/lecture program on three "Great Photographers of the Southwest: Dorothea Lange, Ansel Adams and Elliot Porter," at the Cortez Cultural Center, 25 N. Market St., on Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m.

The Southwest has long attracted photographers, and a number of major photographers such as Timothy O’Sullivan and William Henry Jackson photographed the region as members of the government surveys after the Civil War.

The slide-lecture will focus on three such individuals — Lange, Adams and Porter — who are recognized as major figures in the history of American photography. Each also has had an impact on public policy.

Lange became famous for her photos of the Dust Bowl refugees of the 1930s, photos that appeared in newspapers and national magazines.

Adams, whose photographs are so associated with the Sierra Nevadas and Yosemite, was a longtime director of the Sierra Club and an advocate of wilderness. His photographs had a direct impact on the creation of Kings Canyon National Park.

Porter became know for his intimate photographs of landscapes. He was active in the environmental movement; one of his books was involved in the controversy over Glen Canyon Dam.

This heavily illustrated program will assess the stature of these individuals as photographers but also will show how their photographs influenced public opinion and public policy.

Dick Ellis received his Ph.D. at the University of Colorado. From 1987 to 1995 he served as director of the Center of Southwest Studies. He is currently chair of the Department of Southwest Studies and has served on the board of directors of the Southern Ute Museum since 1987.

He is the author and editor of a number of books about Western American history and American Indian history. His most recent publications include: Colorado: A History in Photographs (Dr. Duane Smith, co-author), Cheyenne Dog Soldiers: A Ledgerbook History of Coups and Combat (with Afton, Halaas and Masich), and a chapter on Ute history in Ute Indian Arts and Culture (ed. by Willl Wroth). He was a consultant on the Ute exhibit at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, an exhibit that will be at the Anasazi Heritage Center this year, during which time Fort Lewis College will have a teacher workshop on Ute history and culture.

For information on other programs at the Cortez Cultural Center call 565-1151 or visit the website at www.cortezculturalcenter.org