<< Back 10/23/02 Art museum to exhibit early WNC photos SMN The Asheville Art Museum is exhibiting more than 30 of William Henry Jackson’s astonishing turn-of-the-century photographs. This exhibit, which celebrates the centennial of the well-known photographer’s trip to Western North Carolina, includes vintage color prints from the museum’s permanent collection, cyanotype prints on loan from the Library of Congress, and a panoramic view of the original Battery Park Hotel loaned by the Henry Ford Museum. Jackson (1843-1942) came to Western North Carolina in 1902 during his last active years as a renowned landscape photographer. At that time perhaps the most famous photographer in America, he had been documenting scenes around the world for more than 30 years. Jackson was most famous for his depictions of the western frontier, including his stunning images of what would become Yellowstone National Park. His large-format photographs, along with images by painter Thomas Moran — who worked side by side with him on the U.S. Geological Survey — were used to present a case to Congress for establishing Yellowstone as the first national park in the United States in 1872. Jackson visited Western North Carolina as president of the Detroit Photographic Company, a position he held from 1897 to 1924. The company was noted for the quality postcards and color photolithographs it produced to serve a burgeoning tourist trade. They used an intricate Swiss process, called Photochrom, for reproducing their black and white photographic images in color. These postcards, amazing at the time for the pure novelty of early color photography, are still notable today for their richness and detail. In conjunction with the exhibition, there will be a reception and gallery talk from 2 to 4 p.m., Sunday, Nov. 3. Peggy Gardner, guest curator, will discuss Jackson’s life and work. This exhibit is sponsored by the Seth Sprague Educational and Charitable Foundation and the Maurer Family Foundation. It was organized by the Asheville Art Museum and guest curator Peggy Gardner. Related books are available in the museum shop.