The Greensboro Opera House and the Newbern Library are collaborating for a two-day celebration of southern photography: “Taking a Second Look: William Christenberry and Beyond.” 

On Friday, March 2,  the Greensboro Opera House will host a gala opening of an exhibition featuring some 40 works by noted photographers representative of contemporary southern photography. At the core of the exhibit will be works on loan from the collection of the Do Good Fund, of Columbus, Georgia, and will include works by international acclaimed artist William Chirstenberry who was a native of Hale County and returned here throughout his life to document through photographs the passage of time. The Christenberry photographs will be supplemented by those of various other photographers with a regional connection, including the three European photographers, from Great Britain, Italy, and Germany respectively, who were attracted to this area by the work of Walker Evans and William Christenberry.

Richard McCabe, curator of the Ogden Museum of Art in New Orleans and a photographer himself will, as the guest speaker for the opening, address the subject of southern photography and the works on exhibit. Atlanta photographer and Selma native, Jerry Siegel, will discuss his own work, some of which will be on display.  A social hour will follow the presentations giving guests a chance to view the exhibition and visit with the speakers.

The following morning, Saturday, March 3, the Newbern Library will host a photography workshop conducted by Jerry Siegel. The workshop is limited to 50 participants, each of whom should come equipped with some type of photographic device, even if it is simply a cell phone.  Beginning at 10 a.m., Siegel will lead a discussion on photographic composition and technique and will field questions. Breaking at noon, participants are on their own to enjoy lunch at a local restaurant or bring a lunch. During the lunch break, participants will have a chance for their own photo shoot of William Chirstenberry’s often-photographed green barn or of any other subject. Upon returning at 1 p.m., Siegel will help critique the photos and answer the questions before adjourning at 2 p.m.

Tickets for the Gala Opening of the Exhibit and the Workshop can be purchased at the Partridge Berry in Greensboro,  the Newbern Mercantile, and the Newbern Library.  Further information can be obtained at wcobbs118@earthlink.net. Tickets for the gala are $30 and those for the workshop are $10 for Hale County residents and $25 for out-of-county residents. Participants for the workshop are limited to 50.

During the two weeks following the opening gala, the exhibit will be open to the public, free of charge, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 7, Thursday, March 8, Saturday, March 10, Tuesday, March, 13, Wednesday, March 14, and Thursday, March 15. 

For more information about group tours, contact Winnie Cobbs at wcobbs118@earthlink.net.   This event is made possible in part by support from the Do Good Fund and the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

(This article originally appeared in the Wednesday, February 28 issue of the Demopolis Times.)