The Groundbreaking Photography of Betty Kuhner

June 5, 2019, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Redwood Library and Athenæum


Authors, Kate Kuhner and Steven Stolman will present highlights from their recently published book, Betty Kuhner: An American Family Portrait. Groundbreaking photographer Betty Kuhner truly revolutionized the American family portrait, taking it from the staid arrangement of mother, father and children dressed in their Sunday best, carefully arranged in front of the living room mantelpiece or on a sofa. Rather, she instructed her subjects to dress casually, many times similarly, and coaxed them to accompany her into the backyard, the garden or onto the beach. Once there, she would intuitively find the perfect location and, more importantly, exquisite light, all the while engaging Mother Nature and serendipity to serve as the ultimate stylist. Her long and prolific career built an archive of over five decades of extraordinary documentation of America’s most distinguished dynasties―with assorted Kennedys, Fords, and the families of style icons Lilly Pulitzer and Esteé Lauder included in her inspiring body of work.

Kate Kuhner, daughter of Betty Kuhner, is the owner of Kate Kuhner Photography in Palm Beach and keeper of her mother’s archive.

Steven Stolman curated a retrospective on Betty Kuhner during her lifetime, is well versed on East Coast high society of the 1950s to the present, and is the author of Scalamandré: Haute Decor (Gibbs Smith, 2013).

Reception at 5:30 pm

Lecture at 6:00 pm

Members $5.

Non-members $10.

Registration required.

Call 401-847-0292.

Date:
Wednesday, June 5, 2019 – 5:30pm to 7:00pm
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