William Eggleston, "Untitled", 1975. Dye transfer print, 16 x 20 in. (40.6 x 50.8 cm). © Eggleston Artistic Trust. Courtesy Cheim & Read Gallery

It’s easy to get lost in a city like New York with so much sensory stimulation, you feel like there isn’t enough time to explore all of the glorious cultural benefits the wildly diverse boroughs afford. I often kick myself for skipping out on a good show or failing to see a movie before it’s removed from theaters. One such event that should not be missed is William Eggleston: Democratic Camera, Photographs and Video, 1961-2008 on view at The Whitney through January 25, 2009. A little background for the stunads among us:

Photographer William Eggleston, born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1939, gained mainstream recognition for his simple and beautiful work in 1976 when his photographs—derided by art snobs for their bold departure from black and white—were exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art. According to the NY Times, the controversial show, with its focus on everyday Southern life, was received as critical failure, calling it "Perfectly banal, perfectly boring." Somewhat ironically, that same paper is now lauding his work, which is considered iconic, and his work’s popularity is due in no small part to Eggleston's (costly) use of the dye transfer printing method, which yields stunningly vivid colors.Taken from 10. D.70.V1, published in 1996.

This show at The Whitney, which opened in November, is Eggleston's first New York museum solo show since his MoMA debut. The retrospective covers the beginnings of his career some fifty years ago to the present day, and includes more than 150 photographs, some never-before-exhibited, as well as the rarely screened video diary of Eggleston's "legendary nocturnal wanderings," Stranded in Canton.

So for every young buck who picks up a camera and thinks his/her work is so original because it’s documenting life as it’s lived, pay homage to the master.  If you're one of those Terry Richardson disciples who thinks his "cinema verite" schtick is genius, well, this is going to blow your mind and put everything into perspective.  Get over to The Whitney sooner than later and enjoy Eggleston's work for what it is, beautiful, stunning and original.  

Whitney Museum of American Art
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New York, NY 10021

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