Description
Book SynopsisThrough engaging interviews, testimonials, and anecdotes from photographers, curators, printers, and colleagues, Object Lesson: On the Influence of Richard Benson pays homage to a legendary figure whose name is synonymous with the evolving history and philosophy of photographic reproduction. From making platinum prints for Paul Strand and books with Lee Friedlander to his own experiments with inkjet and digital offset processes, and as a teacher and dean of the Yale School of Art, by the time of his death in 2017, Benson had inspired over three decades of students and artisans through his mentorship and work. In words and images,
Object Lesson stands as a testament to Benson’s wit, wisdom, and incomparable obsession with how photographic images render and connect us to the world.
Text, image, and interview contributions by Michele Abeles, Marion Belanger, Barbara Benson, Richard Benson, Dawoud Bey, Andrew Borowiec, Lois Conner, Matthew Connors, Tim Davis, Benjamin Donaldson, Dru Donovan, Martina Droth, Shannon Ebner, Lucas Foglia, Peter Galassi, John Gambell, Jon Goodman, Bryan Graf, Gail Albert Halaban, Gary Haller, Heyward Hart, Robert J. Hennessey, Peter Kayafas, Lisa Kereszi, Justin Kimball, David La Spina, John Lehr, Susan Lipper, Salvatore Lopes, Peter MacGill, Tanya Marcuse, Lesley A. Martin, Miko McGinty, Sue Medlicott, Sarah Meister, Paul Messier, Andrea Modica, Matthew Monteith, Abelardo Morell, Arthur Ou, Thomas Palmer, Tod Papageorge, Ted Partin, Bradley Peters, John Pilson, Kristine Potter, Caitlin Teal Price, Sergio Purtell, Jock Reynolds, John Robinson, Jeff L. Rosenheim, Sasha Rudensky, Gary Schneider, David Benjamin Sherry, Steve Smith, Mark Steinmetz, Sarah Stolfa, Ka-Man Tse, James Welling, and Jeff Whetstone
Trade Review“This delightful book illustrates how, through leading questions and seemingly simple steps, Richard Benson encouraged others to think and see with greater agency and nuance—and how deftly he shared his generous sense of humanity’s capacity to better this world.” — Maria Morris Hambourg
Table of ContentsPreface 7
Introduction John Pilson 9
Contributions Michele Abeles 18
Marion Belanger 20
Dawoud Bey 22
Andrew Borowiec 28
Lois Conner 32
Matthew Connors 36
Tim Davis 38
Benjamin Donaldson 42
Dru Donovan 46
Shannon Ebner 50
Lucas Foglia 52
Jon Goodman 54
Bryan Graf 58
Gail Albert Halaban 60
Heyward Hart 64
Robert J. Hennessey 66
Peter Kayafas 72
Lisa Kereszi 80
Justin Kimball 85
David La Spina 88
John Lehr 92
Susan Lipper 94
Salvatore Lopes 98
Tanya Marcuse 102
Sue Medlicott 106
Sarah Meister 108
Paul Messier and Martina Droth 112
Andrea Modica 114
Matthew Monteith 118
Abelardo Morell 120
Arthur Ou 124
Tod Papageorge 128
Ted Partin 132
Bradley Peters 134
Kristine Potter 136
Caitlin Teal Price 140
Sergio Purtell 144
John Robinson 148
Jeff L. Rosenheim 154
Sasha Rudensky 158
Gary Schneider 160
David Benjamin Sherry 164
Steve Smith 166
Mark Steinmetz 168
Sarah Stolfa 170
Ka-Man Tse 172
James Welling 176
Jeff Whetstone 180
Conversations and Writings Peter MacGill and Barbara Benson in conversation 186
Paul Messier and Thomas Palmer in conversation with Lesley A. Martin and Miko McGinty 197
John Gambell and Gary Haller in conversation with Miko McGinty 207
Peter Galassi 216
Working with Lee Richard Benson 218
Jock Reynolds 240
Contributor Biographies 243
Acknowledgments 246
