News [1]

If you’ve ever doubted the famous Chinese proverb that “a picture is worth a thousand words,” the selected photos from the George Eastman House collection on display June 19-Sept.16 at the SpeedArt Museumwill put it all in focus.

The Best of Photography and Film From George Eastman House Collection will include over 200 iconic images that quite possibly helped change history and how Americans view the past. This collection captures both heartbreaking and glorifying moments in the nation’s past, ranging from 19th century pioneer portraits to the tragic events on Sept. 11, 2001.

The exhibit will also feature written panels following the history of photography, including innovative steps by George Eastman “to make the camera as convenient as the pencil.” Before opening the Eastman Kodak Co., Eastman spent years experimenting with dry plates in his mother’s kitchen. In 1888 he perfected rolled photography film and the Kodak camera. The new camera was more affordable, easy to carry and held enough film for 100 shots. Customers could drop off their finished cameras to Eastman’s store in Rochester, N. Y., and then pick up the pictures along with the reloaded camera. Convenience had arrived.

Eastman also created the commercial transparent rolled film that Thomas Edison used in his first motion picture camera. The Speed exhibit will display pre-1923 film clips restored from the Eastman House archives, including celebrity portraits, motion picture stills, movie posters and lobby cards — all objects Eastman’s inventions made possible.

Tickets are $10, free for museum members. For more information on group tours call (502) 634-2700 or visit www.speedmuseum.org [4].