What does it mean to say someone is cool? An original American idiom, “Cool” is slang. Cool could mean calm, fashionable, trendy, casual, nonchalant or just being in control. In addition, the exhibit displays a social charge of rebellious self-expression, charisma, edge and mystery.
“American Cool” is a photography exhibition highlighting 100 portraits of iconic celebrities, who have influenced the original artistic vision of American culture, who are symbolic figures from their own time. This exhibition consists of carefully chosen portraits is scheduled to open on Feb. 7 – Sept. 7, 2014.
In the early 1940s, legendary jazz saxophonist Lester Young brought this African American expression into the modern vernacular. They emerged from a variety of fields: art, music, film, sports, comedy, literature and even political activism. “American Cool” is the idea and spirit of time taking embodied form.
Cool became a keyword in the hippie lifestyle, which meant a balanced state of mind, a dynamic mode of performance with a certain style. Additionally, “cool” people are actors, artists, singers or musicians, who have control of their unflappable signature style.
Please note the most exceptional 20th century shutterbugs are categorically the elite of fine art portrait photographers ever and they were well chosen. Photographers, who have earned their recognition, are Diane Arbus, Richard Avedon, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Annie Leibovitz and Herman Leonard.
The above photographers captured exceptional images of the following cool characters, who were characterized as cool are jazz musicians Miles Davis and Billie Holiday; actors such as Johnny Depp, Faye Dunaway and Robert Mitchum, plus singers Elvis Presley, Patti Smith and Jay-Z.
“American Cool” will offer a fully illustrated catalog of the same title, published by Delmonico Books, with essays written by the curators whose names of the exhibition are listed below.
Joel Dinerstein, Endowed Chair in American Civilization and director of the New Orleans Center for the Gulf South Tulane University, James H. Clark and Frank H. Goodyear III, co-director of the Boin College Museum of Art.”
Even though the Smithsonian American Art Museum closed due to a government shutdown; therefore, this exhibition will be available after the government will reopen the Smithsonian complex of museums. If you enjoy photography this would be the best future exhibit to place on your calendars.
