Baker Schorr Fine Art will present “The Shadow Catcher: Edward Sheriff Curtis and The North American Indian,” an exhibition of photogravures from Curtis’ 20-volume work, “The North American Indian.”
The exhibit will be on view from Feb. 24 to April 8, according to a press release. These powerful and hauntingly beautiful images illuminate the rich culture, religion and way of life of numerous North American tribes and reflect the profound mutual respect shared by Curtis and the Indians he photographed. An opening reception of the exhibit will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 24 at 200 Spring Park Drive, suite 105.
From 1900 to 1930 American photographer Edward Sheriff Curtis traveled and lived among more than 80 indigenous tribal groups west of the Mississippi, from the Mexican border to northern Alaska. His photographer captured their authentic way of life, producing 40,000 fragile glass plate negatives that were often damaged, 10,000 wax cylinders of recordings and 4,000 pages of anthropological text.
His efforts culminated in the publication of “The North American Indian.” The publication consists of 20 volumes of text each containing 75 small hand-pulled photogravures and 20 portfolios with 36 large format hand-pulled photogravures to accompany each volume. His work is the most extensive and expensive photographic project ever undertaken in the history of photography.
For 30 years Curtis packed his cameras and supplies needed for months traveling by foot and by horses with covered wagons deep into Indian territories. His personal reputation and relationship with each tribe were a trusted one. His respect for them was legendary, and they called him “The Shadow Catcher.”
Curtis worked out of the belief that Native Americans were “a vanishing race” that needed to be documented before “white” expansion and the federal government destroyed what remained of their native ways. Curtis’ work was backed by J. Pierpont Morgan and President Theodore Roosevelt. The New York Herald hailed it as “The most ambitious enterprise in publishing since the King James Bible.”
Event schedule
Cinderella, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Saturday, Feb. 20, Feb. 25, Feb. 26, Midland Community Theatre.
Midland Dog Show, Feb. Thursday through Sunday, Horseshoe Arena.
Outdoor educator Phil Salonek, noon Thursday, Sibley Nature Center Auditorium.
Social With Solutions, 4 p.m. Thursday, Second Story Coworking.
Third Thursday Reading Program, 4:30 p.m. Thursday, George W. Bush Childhood Home.
Motown Experience, 6 p.m. Thursday, The Selfie Museum.
Speed Dating with Midland AF, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Tall City Brewing Co.
Film Series, 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Ellen Noel Art Museum.
Parent’s Survival Night, 6:30 p.m. Friday, The Little Gym of Midland.
Pecos and the Rooftops, 9 p.m. Friday, Dos Amigos.
Rise and Run, 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Centennial Park.
Third Saturdays in the Garden, 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, West Texas Food Bank.
Gaither Music Group, 6 p.m. Saturday, Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.
Rise and Run, 8:15 a.m. Saturday, Centennial Park.
The Journey: A Celebration of Black History Month, 2 p.m. Saturday, Museum of the Southwest.
Wedding Open House, 1 p.m. Sunday, Odessa Marriott Hotel and Conference Center.
Think Better. Live Better, 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Higher Grounds Coffee Shop.
Adults Only Late Skate MCM Rink N’ Roll, 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Music City Mall.
Regional Conversation West Texas, 2:30 p.m. Feb. 22. Online: Register at https://www.texansforthearts.com.
Allison Watkins Lunch and Learn, noon Feb. 23,
Salute 2022: Out of the Darkness, Into the Light, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 24, Petroleum Club of Midland.
Brian Milson, 8 p.m. Feb. 24, The Mule Barn Cantina.
Book Club Poetry Night, 6:30 p.m. Feb. 25, Hand Café.
Ron White, 10 p.m. Feb. 25, Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center.
Wacky Wig Run, 9 a.m. Feb. 26, Scharbauer Sports Complex.
People’s Choice Cajun Cook-Off, 4:30 p.m. Feb. 26, American Legion.
35th Annual Shrimpfest, 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28, Ector County Coliseum.
