This exhibition presents highlights from more than 500 works,
generously donated or loaned to the Speed by Louisville
businessman and philanthropist Henry V. Heuser, Jr. This
celebration of Heuser’s achievement as a collector and museum
supporter features work by some of this country’s most important
American photographers, including Harry Callahan, Ray Metzker,
and Garry Winogrand.
“Bill Carner from the Photographic Archives of the University of Louisville and I spent several days going
through well over 500 photographs,” said Curator of Contemporary Art, Suzanne Weaver. “The result is
a large-scale and visually stunning exhibition that includes nearly 100 black and white and color
photographs which showcases several key American photographers and developments in post-1950s
photographic practices.”
Since his youth, Henry Heuser has loved art and has evolved into an ardent collector. Beginning in the
1970s, Heuser became especially interested in the work of contemporary American photographers and
through the years has built a collection containing hundreds of photographic works.
Mr. Heuser said of his donation to the museum, “Before myself and others actively donated photography
to the Speed, it already had wonderful things – any museum would be envious to have. I’m pleased the
museum is interested in photography and will continue to develop exciting programs around the
collection.” Heuser is glad that his collection will be exhibited as he gave it so that the public would have
the opportunity to see and appreciate it.
City/Country is presented as part the 2009 Louisville Visual Arts Festival, a citywide celebration of visual
arts in Louisville. This year’s festival celebrates the Center for Photographic Studies, a Louisville
alternative school for photography, which was open from 1970 to 1978. During its eight-year existence,
the Center attracted students from over 35 states and foreign countries to its full-time resident program
and provided instruction and darkroom access for hundreds of students in the Louisville area. To honor
its contribution to Louisville, an area highlighting works by participants involved with the Center will be
featured within the exhibition including Aaron Siskind and Ralph Eugene Meatyard. For information about
the Louisville Visual Art Festival, visit www.paulpalettigallery.com/upcoming.
In conjunction with the exhibition opening, a public panel on the collecting and care of
photography will be held on June 7, 2009 from 1- 2:30 pm. Panelists include Suzanne Weaver /
Speed Curator of Contemporary Art; Paul Paletti / Collector and Owner of Paul Paletti Gallery; Bill
Carner / University of Louisville Photographic Archives; Henry V. Heuser, Jr. / Louisville collector; and
Jerry Zbrial / The Collected Image Gallery. Admission to this panel is free.
