Edith OʼDonnell Institute of Art History of UT-Dallas to present ‘Carolyn Brown and Palmyra: An Ancient City Through the Lens’ opening Oct. 9 at Crow Museum of Asian Art
Dallas, Texas – Presents strikingly relevant photographs of Palmyra from 1989, the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History from the University of Texas at Dallas will present Carolyn Brown and Palmyra: An Ancient City through the Lens. The exhibition is running October 9, 2021 to January 2, 2022 at the Crow Museum of Art at the University of Texas in Dallas, is located in the Dallas Arts District on Flora St.
Dallas-based photographer Brown is known for her brilliantly composed architectural images that depict both the beauty and the distinctive character of the built environment, while at the same time emphasizing human presence and cultural heritage. This exhibition shows 12 of her large-format photographs documenting Palmyra (in present-day Syria) from her travels 32 years ago. With these works, the exhibition aims to examine notions of cultural heritage in this place specifically, but also in a larger global context.
Carolyn Brown and Palmyra: An Ancient City through the Lens is curated by Dr. Michael Thomas, director of the O ?? Donnell Institute; and Heather Bowling, the institute’s research coordinator. NOTE: There will be a media preview day on Thursday, October 7th at 10 a.m. Details will be announced shortly.
?? Brown’s photographs vividly document the architecture and landscape of Palmyra, the ruins of which have since been destroyed by extremists in connection with the Islamic State, ?? said Dr. Michael Thomas, Director of the Edith O ?? Donnell Institute of Art History at the University of Texas at Dallas, Richard R. Brettell Distinguished University Chair and curator of the exhibition. ?? These breathtaking images capture both the place and mankind while capturing today’s ruined and irreplaceable cultural heritage. ??
In 1989, Brown traveled to the Syrian desert and made her first trip of many to the ancient caravan town of Palmyra to photograph its unmistakable beauty and architectural grandeur. The monumental architectural remains are known in both ancient times and modern times and reflect a dynamic mix of cultures and traditions. Her images overcome the harsh desert sun to reveal the remarkable details and subtle hues of this stone urban landscape.
In 1980, Palmyra was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, cementing its position as a place of inestimable importance not only for the global community, but also as a place of national identity and pride of the Syrian people. As the world watched in horror in 2015 and 2017, the terrorist organization known as ISIS overran the ancient city and carried out monstrous attacks on its residents, buildings, monuments and artifacts.
?? This exhibition brings us closer to the people of antiquity and their influence on the present, ?? said Braun. ?? This work aims to shed light on the cultural layers in Palmyra and to capture fragments of past moments alongside modern life in Syria. ??
Accompanying the work of Carolyn Brown in this exhibition, the pictures by New York Times photographer Bryan Denton document the incredible destruction of the site. Capturing critical details that are forever lost today, Brown’s images provide invaluable documentation of Palmyra’s priceless cultural heritage.
From an early age, Brown’s photography combined art and architecture
Brown honed her craft from a young age with a Brownie Hawkeye camera and later attended Texas Women’s University to study ceramics and sculpture. In the 1970s, she studied Islamic art and architecture at Cairo American University in Egypt and bought a Nikon 35mm camera to photograph the nearby Fatimid mosques and other various locations across Old Cairo. Her career began during this period when field trips to nearby landmarks and architectural marvels took her on inspiring early topics and took her on an exhilarating journey around the world immortalized through her camera lens.
Brown eventually settled in the United States, but continued to travel abroad often to ancient cities across the Middle East. From her base in Dallas in 1991, Brown also began traveling closer to home to photograph pre-Hispanic archaeological sites, viceregal churches, and the natural landscapes of Mexico and Central America, responding to the rich colors, intimacy, and intensity of these sets . This work became a blockbuster show, titled Sacred Space: Man and the Divine in Mexico, Guatemala and Southwestern United States, which was installed in the Hall of State in Fair Park and was introduced in 2000 by the late Dr. Richard Brettell was curated.
More recently, her work has expanded to include various cultural, natural, and architectural sites in Texas, such as Texas A&M University, Caddo Lake, Fort Worth Stockyards, Dallas, and Fair Park – all subjects of her books, including Dallas: Portrait of a City; Visions of a southern cypress lake; Swift’s Painted Tombs; Architecture Speaks: The Legacy of SCP Vosper at Texas A&M University; and Dallas Fair Park: Art Deco Forever.
Brown’s photographs have been exhibited many times in Texas, but also across America and Mexico. In 2018, the SP / N Gallery held a retrospective of her life’s work at UT Dallas, curated from an archive of around 75,000 of her photographs. Brown is currently working with the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History at the University of Texas at Dallas to digitize this archive.
general information
Face covering is strongly recommended. Hand sanitizer is available throughout the museum, and museum staff practice intensified cleaning practices throughout the day.
The Crow Museum of Asian Art at the University of Texas at Dallas is open Tuesday through Sunday (11 am-5pm). The museum is closed on Mondays. The museum is located downtown at 2010 Flora St., Dallas, Texas, 75201.
Admission is free. For more information, see crowmuseum.org or call 214-979-6430.
Via the Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History at the University of Texas at Dallas
The Edith O’Donnell Institute of Art History is a center for innovative research and teaching in art history. Research and teaching at the O ?? Donnell Institute encompass a global art history spanning geography, chronology, and media. As the first art history research institute in the digital age, the O ?? Donnell Institute researches in particular the interface between the visual arts and science and technology. As a center for the growing community of art historians, curators and practicing artists in Dallas and Fort Worth, the institute is dedicated to intellectual creativity, exchange and collaboration in the form of lectures and symposia, exhibitions, publications and collaborations with area institutions.
Via the Crow Museum of Asian Art at the University of Texas at Dallas
Founded in 1998 by Trammell and Margaret Crow, the Crow Museum of Asian Art at the University of Texas at Dallas inspires and fosters learning and dialogue about the arts and cultures of Asia through its exhibitions, research and preservation of its collections, artistic and educational programming, and visitor experience and commitment. The museum accomplishes this in accordance with the highest professional standards and by working with diverse audiences and community partners in North Texas and around the world. Free and open to the public, and with an array of beautiful rooms and galleries, the downtown museum provides a serene setting for serene reflection in the heart of the Dallas Arts District. In 2019, the Crow family donated the collection to the University of Texas at Dallas in honor of its founders and to ensure its preservation and care forever. A second location designed by Morphosis Architects will open by 2025 as part of a larger campus art and performance complex. Learn more at www.crowmuseum.org.
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