pete schramm
New participant
[FONT="]This question might seem strange but here goes: It all started with the photography exhibit at the Jepson by a former SCAD student.
She framed her images using white "museum" frames (instead of black) so that, the frame would have less visual detraction from the picture (made perfect sense). In fact, the overall exhibit layout was well executed (e.g. gray walls, good spacing etc.)
The result is that it got me thinking about writing an article for the Telfair Museum docents on the history of the modern black (as well as white) museum frame. Personally, in the past I have made a habit of accepting the frame without thought, but when I started digging into the use of this frame style I realized that its source appears to be something that has gotten no attention from the art history community.
We all know and love the frame styles of the nineteen century that seem to have emerged from a grand tradition, but the black frame has generated little discussion.
I can imagine that the Bauhaus period of radical experimentation in "modern styles' in all the arts (1920's) could have contributed to its use in new museums at the time, like the MoMA but it is really a guess. Stieglitz may well have preceded the Bauhaus at his NY gallery 921.
In summary I would love know if you have come across any references that might shed some light on the origins/history of the black/white museum frame.
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[FONT="]Thank you
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[FONT="]
[FONT="]Pete Schramm[FONT="]
Telfair Museums, Master Docent[/FONT][/FONT]
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She framed her images using white "museum" frames (instead of black) so that, the frame would have less visual detraction from the picture (made perfect sense). In fact, the overall exhibit layout was well executed (e.g. gray walls, good spacing etc.)
The result is that it got me thinking about writing an article for the Telfair Museum docents on the history of the modern black (as well as white) museum frame. Personally, in the past I have made a habit of accepting the frame without thought, but when I started digging into the use of this frame style I realized that its source appears to be something that has gotten no attention from the art history community.
We all know and love the frame styles of the nineteen century that seem to have emerged from a grand tradition, but the black frame has generated little discussion.
I can imagine that the Bauhaus period of radical experimentation in "modern styles' in all the arts (1920's) could have contributed to its use in new museums at the time, like the MoMA but it is really a guess. Stieglitz may well have preceded the Bauhaus at his NY gallery 921.
In summary I would love know if you have come across any references that might shed some light on the origins/history of the black/white museum frame.
[/FONT]
[FONT="]Thank you
[/FONT]
[FONT="]
[FONT="]Pete Schramm[FONT="]
Telfair Museums, Master Docent[/FONT][/FONT]
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