Karl Blossfeldt's Influence
Karl Blossfeldt's legacy in photography continues to inspire artists today, including those in Portland's art scene. His focus on magnified plant forms and unique techniques, like using special lenses to amplify natural forms, have resonated with artists long beyond his time.
In Portland, an artist employed Blossfeldt's philosophy of careful observation by using a scanner as a camera, breathing new life into digital photography. This approach provides a fresh take for contemporary audiences, echoing the Victorian-era fascination with natural form.
Recent Portland exhibitions pay tribute to Blossfeldt's exploration of nature through a modern lens. Artists combine traditional methods with new technologies, encouraging viewers to linger on the fine, often overlooked details of our world. These exhibitions also experiment with monotonic schemes, revealing intricate textures and patterns of nature in a striking and timeless way.
Blossfeldt's work wasn't simply about photographing plants; it was about capturing form and structure in a way that speaks to both art and science. This fusion is evident in how artists at the Portland Art Museum integrate his philosophy into their creations, blending analog and digital practices.
Portland's art scene reflects the dynamic exchange between tradition and innovation in photography, keeping Blossfeldt's legacy alive while pushing it in new directions. This ongoing conversation between past and present remains vibrant and constantly changing, much like the perennial life cycles of the plants Blossfeldt loved to photograph.

Paul McCartney's Photo Exhibition
Paul McCartney's photography exhibition at the Portland Art Museum, "Eyes of the Storm," offers a unique glimpse into The Beatles' rise to fame during the early 1960s. This collection of over 250 photographs from McCartney's personal archive captures the band's experiences during a three-month period between late 1963 and early 1964.
These images provide an insider's perspective on Beatlemania, showing the band not just as global icons, but as young men experiencing unprecedented fame. From backstage moments to downtime in hotel rooms, McCartney's lens reveals a personal story rarely seen by fans.
The exhibition's historical context is significant, documenting The Beatles' inaugural American tour during the British Invasion. McCartney's photographs carry the weight of this cultural shift, connecting viewers with the band's journey and a broader story of 20th-century popular culture.
While The Beatles are the main focus, the exhibition also highlights McCartney's aesthetic sensibility and approach to photography. The images showcase a variety of styles that reflect his creative journey and the artistic climate of the 1960s.
"Looking at these photos now, decades after they were taken, I find there's a sort of innocence about them," said Paul McCartney. "Everything was new to us at this point. But I like to think I wouldn't take them any differently today. They now bring back so many stories, a flood of special memories, which is one of the many reasons I love them all, and know that they will always fire my imagination."
For Beatles fans, this exhibition is a nostalgic journey, but it holds significance beyond musical fandom. Photography enthusiasts will appreciate how McCartney, an enthusiastic but untrained photographer, channeled his keen sense of observation into compelling compositions.
"Eyes of the Storm" illustrates how photography, like music, can communicate deeply personal stories and universal themes, capturing fleeting moments of wonder and chaos.

Presence: Judy Glickman Lauder Collection
The exhibition "Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder" at the Portland Museum of Art showcases approximately 150 photographs by 70 distinguished artists. This collection spans personal and global histories, bringing to life diverse and compelling stories.
Works by influential photographers of the 20th century, including Diane Arbus, Gordon Parks, and Richard Avedon, form the core of this collection. Each artist contributes a unique perspective on humanity, from Arbus's poignant portraits to Parks's socially committed images and Avedon's iconic fashion photography.
Less familiar names such as Irving Bennett Ellis and Graciela Iturbide also feature in the exhibition, adding unique voices that enrich the dialogue among these masterpieces. This breadth underscores the universality of capturing presence in photography.
Judy Glickman Lauder's gift of over 600 works elevates the Portland Museum of Art's standing in the field of photography. The collection offers profound reflections on key historical events like the Great Depression and the Holocaust, allowing viewers to confront and empathize with a broad spectrum of human experiences.
- Captures the full spectrum of human experience
- Features both famous and lesser-known photographers
- Reflects on significant historical events
- Transforms the PMA's photography collection
"Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder" is a testament to the enduring power of images to convey human emotion and experience. Visitors leave with an enriched understanding of photography's potential to stir empathy, provoke reflection, and foster a deeper connection to the world and its histories.

The Role of Photography in Cultural Expression
At the Portland Art Museum, photography serves as both a canvas and a lens to capture and convey cultural stories. The museum's exhibitions demonstrate this medium's power to narrate and preserve cultural history, offering insights into a spectrum of human experiences.
Photography encapsulates cultural moments and personal stories, bridging individual experiences and collective memory. Paul McCartney's "Eyes of the Storm" exhibition provides a glimpse into a pivotal time in music history, allowing visitors to experience Beatlemania's energy and The Beatles' historic ascension on both personal and global scales.
"Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder" unfolds as a visually eloquent account of humanity's triumphs and tribulations. By showcasing a wide array of photographers, the collection traverses historical events, from the Civil Rights Movement to the Holocaust. These images serve as crucial cultural texts, providing an empathetic lens through which to view some of history's most challenging chapters.
The exhibitions at the Portland Art Museum also embrace the personal and intimate aspects of cultural expression. Through their exploration of complex themes—identity, struggle, celebration, and resilience—they offer viewers an opportunity for personal reflection and connection. Whether through portraits full of unguarded emotion or urban landscapes capturing everyday life, these photographs evoke a sense of presence and participation in a broader human story.
As patrons explore the halls of the Portland Art Museum, they participate in storytelling that transcends the boundaries of time and geography. Photography in these exhibitions acts as a cultural beacon, illuminating pathways to understanding our shared past and encouraging conversations about our communal future. It provokes reflection, inspires connection, and kindles a sense of shared humanity that endures through its artful portrayal of timeless stories.

Photography serves as a powerful medium that bridges personal experiences and collective memory, capturing moments that resonate deeply with audiences across time and space. Through its lens, we gain insights into cultural stories, allowing us to connect with both the past and present in meaningful ways.
- McCartney P. 1964: Eyes of the Storm. National Portrait Gallery; 2023.
- Dolan J. Paul McCartney Photographs 1963-64: Eyes of the Storm. Portland Art Museum; 2024.
- Glickman Lauder J. Presence: The Photography Collection of Judy Glickman Lauder. Aperture; 2022.








