The Art of Caring: A Look at Life through photography

A major exhibition of 193 photographic works, depicting caring in every stage of life from birth to old age, will be featured in the Art Museum of South Texas galleries beginning Friday, Oct. 21 and running through the end of the year.
The Art of Caring: A Look at Life through Photography was organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art and comes to Corpus Christi through a major grant from corporate patron Flint Hills Resources. The title sponsor is Christus Spohn Health System.

The photographs are presented in seven thematic categories of: 1) Children and Family, 2) Love, 3) Wellness, 4) Disaster, 5) Caregiving and Healing, 6) Aging and 7) Remembering. The images in The Art of Caring: A Look at Life through Photography also allow the viewer to witness many of the great events that shaped the last half-century, as well as those that are shaping the new millennium.

Included are extensive selections from the Time LIFE Picture Collection, including works from legendary photographers such as Alfred Eisenstaedt and Margaret Bourke-White and contemporary photographers such as Harry Callahan and Sally Mann. A special group of selected works by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz introduces the exhibition.

"With its Katrina experience in mind, the New Orleans Museum of Art felt that this exhibition could serve as an important reminder of the essential elements of the human experience and how they need to be nurtured and sustained," former New Orleans Museum of Art Director E. John Bullard said.

In an accompanying essay in the exhibition catalogue, The Art of Caring: A Look at Life through Photography, Guest Curator Cynthia Goodman writes, "The arts are not luxuries but necessities in troubled times - a source of solace, comfort and rejuvenation."

In an educational component of the exhibition, the Art Museum is highlighting the work of seven community organizations that have been paired with the seven exhibition themes. These community partners will also participate in a free Family Day at the Art Museum on Sunday, Oct. 23. Participating organizations and the themes are as follows: (Children and Family): Driscoll Children's Hospital; (Love): CASA of the Coastal Bend (Court Appointed Special Advocates); (WeIlness): Diabetes Community Coalition; (Disaster): American Red Cross; (Caregiving and Healing): Mission of Mercy Mobile Medical Clinic; (Aging): Alzheimer's Association of San Antonio; and (Remembering): Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.

A digital presentation of works from the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History's historic John Fred'K "Doc" McGregor Collection will provide a local photographic focus.

The Art of Caring: A Look at Life through Photography was organized by the New Orleans Museum of Art with initial funding from the National Hospice Foundation and additional support from the Steere Family and the Wally Findlay Galleries International Inc. The exhibition comes to Corpus Christi through a major grant from corporate patron Flint Hills Resources. Additional corporate support includes title sponsor Christus Spohn Health System, Coastal Bend Community Foundation, WeliMed Medical Management, Frost Bank and Behmann Brothers Foundation.

Many local physicians and individuals also helped underwrite this sweeping exhibition, which remains on view through Dec. 31.

On Friday, Oct. 21 at noon, a "Lunch Amongst the Masters" will feature Cynthia Goodman, PhD., guest curator of The Art of Caring: A Look at Life through Photography. The cost is $15 for museum members and $20 for nonmembers and RSVPs are required to (361) 825-3504. For the most up -to-date information on all public programs, please consult the "Calendar" section of www.ArtMuseumofSouthTexas.org.