Fred W. McDarrah: Save the Village
January 30th – March 8th, 2014
Steven Kasher Gallery, New York City
Save the Village is a collection of over 130 rare and iconic vintage prints spanning the years 1958 to 1979 which seeks to demonstrate that Fred W. McDarrah was the most curious, knowledgeable, and indefatigable photographer of the New York downtown scene in the second half of the 20th century. Though always relevant to anyone interested in the culture and politics of America, McDarrah’s pictures seem especially pertinent now with the recent designation of the expanded South Village Historic District by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the film Inside Llewyn Davis being declared one of the top movies of 2013. Nobody did more than Fred to save Greenwich Village in our collective visual memory.
Fred W. McDarrah was the first picture editor and only staff photographer at The Village Voice for decades. He photographed the artists, writers, musicians, and actors who frequented the bars, theaters, art galleries, and cafes in Greenwich Village. He documented political rallies, gay rights, feminism, and the anti-war movement. In a style simple and direct, McDarrah created street and studio portraits of downtown luminaries, local politicians and bohemian celebrities that were often definitive. Many of his subjects, often little known when he shot them, became cultural icons, such as Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan, Andy Warhol, and Allen Ginsberg.
For more information, please visit stevenkasher.com
