Respecting My Elders, Ellen Wallenstein’s book of color portraits has just been released. Self-published in an open edition, it is 94 pages, perfect-bound with soft covers.
Wallenstein raised funds for this book via a project grant through UnitedStatesArtists.org, a micro-philanthropy that supports artists and projects from across the country. Over 200 people contributed to this publication, from old high school and college friends and family members, to current and former students and colleagues, as well as strangers.
The book contains portraits of 30 creative elders, all over the age of 80. The photographs are of American artists and intellectuals born between the two World Wars who have contributed to the American culture. This very accomplished group includes Edward Albee, Lois Dodd, Milton Glaser, Francine du Plessix Gray, Wolf Kahn, Richard Howard and Dr. Billy Taylor.
Each has a double page spread with their portrait and some “words of wisdom”. A set of catalogue notes in the back describes each person’s accomplishments and the photographer’s experience shooting the pictures.
“Perhaps no artist is more truly represented by his or her face than an older one. When youth is gone, spirit lights up the architecture. Ellen’s reverent, precise, exquisitely composed photos teach us what to see in these visages – not just noses, cheekbones, eyelids and hairdos but irony, amusement, rue, daring, defiance, wisdom, self-assurance, contentment. And something more.
Perhaps it is the ennobling power of devotion to craft.
Aged in the bottle, seasoned with time.”
Marion Winik
Ellen Wallenstein lives and works in New York City. She is a Professor of Art at Pratt Institute and the School of Visual Arts, where she teaches photography and book arts. A NYFA (New York Foundation for the Arts) Photography Fellow, her work has been nominated for the Alfred Eisenstaedt Award for Magazine Photography and the Santa Fe Prize.
Respecting My Elders
Ellen Wallenstein
Preview and order: www.magcloud.com/browse/issue/530767
$25;
The book may also be purchased through the artist’s website and at Dashwood Books in New York City.
For more information contact:
Ellen Wallenstein at 212-477-0875 and by email at [email protected].
