Upon walking into the exhibit Golden Hour: California Photography from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History, there is a certain fantastic weightiness in the atmosphere. I was surrounded by masters of photography hanging gracefully on the walls. I was elated to see works from legendary pioneers such as Edward Weston and Ansel Adams to innovative minds like Amir Zaki and Matthew Brandt. Up until now, I could never imagine viewing a print like Dorothea Lange’s Migrant Mother in my hometown. These works are important as they illustrate the history and diversity of California photography. As a local photographer, it is remarkable to see the images I have studied in books being respectfully hung and on view in Lancaster. Understanding historical works from Lange to contemporaries like Brandt help photographers like myself grow and appreciate our craft.
The time period covered by this exhibit is impressive. The amount of history in Golden Hour is thoughtfully collected and illustrates a diverse number of photographic processes. This is also a reflection of the creativity, diversity, and heritage of California itself. The attention, and care, to the history of California photography has been expertly curated and crafted for the world to witness. As a bonus, I was surprised and delighted to see local aerospace works on display to create an even more unique experience.
This historic exhibit is truly a must see for anyone remotely interested in art, photography, or California. I know I can safely speak for the entire Antelope Valley community when I say we are very honored to have this extraordinary collection on view. As an Antelope Valley native, I can’t imagine a more exciting collection to be on view at the Lancaster Museum of Art and History. Golden Hour is one of the most meticulously and expertly curated collections I have seen. I was impressed with the breadth of history covered all the way down to the attention to local works. This greatly impacted me, as a photographer myself, to see the care and attention to detail given to such an important heritage.
About eighty miles north from the heart of Los Angeles, the Antelope Valley can sometimes feel disconnected from the rest of the county and the art world – that is, until recently. The local art community has blazed a unique artistic trail for our desert city, and I’m proud to be a witness to the growing culture and art scene. As I walked out of the Museum of Art and History, I’ve never felt more inspired and prouder of our treasured city in the desert.
