Research Catalog

Title

The African portfolios / Elisabeth Sunday.

Author

Sunday, Elisabeth

Publication

1987-1990.

Items in the Library & Off-site

Details

Description

• 13 items (.9 cubic ft., one box); 61 x 51 cm
• 12 photographic prints : gelatin silver, black and white ;
• 1 photographic print : gelatin silver, black and white ;

Summary

Depictions of indigenous cultures of Africa from 1987 to 1990, consisting of posed portraits and candid shots of the Dogon of Mali (1987), the Turkana of Kenya (1988), the Mbuti, or BaMbuti (Pygmies) of the Ituri Rain Forest, in Zaire (1989), and the !Kung San (Bushmen) of Botswana (1990). Individuals are depicted child rearing, socializing, participating in rituals, and going about their daily lives, in images that are distorted by utilizing mirrors that produce elongation of the subject and sometimes swirling backgrounds. The photographer is also depicted in a self-portrait.

Subjects

• Gelatin silver prints > 1980-1990
• Portrait photographs > 1980-1990
• Photography, Artistic > United States
• Reflections > 1980-1990
• Indigenous peoples > Africa > Social life and customs
• Turkana (African people) > Kenya
• Mbuti (African people) > Congo (Democratic Republic)
• !Kung (African people) > Botswana
• Dogon (African people) > Mali

Genre/Form

• Portrait photographs – 1980-1990.
• Gelatin silver prints – 1980-1990.

Note

• Title based on brochure for photographer's exhibition sponsored by Eastman Kodak, circa 1989, and photographer's blogsite.
• All large prints bear photographer's signature and handwritten captions on verso; two prints bear photographer's signature on recto. Small print bears handwritten caption, probably not the photographer's, on recto.
• Each large print is identified as an GTSP Ed. [Gold toned silver print edition] Artists Proof; three items bear edition numbers that are crossed out.
• Consists of portions of portfolios "Africa I," People of Senegal, Mali and Kenya (1986-1987); "Portfolio II," The Turkana, Kenya (1988); "Portfolio III," The BaMbuti, Ituri Rain Forest, Zaire (1988-1989); and "Portfolio IV," The !Kung San, The Kalahari Desert, Botswana (1990).

Terms of Use (note)

• Collection is under copyright; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography (note)

• Elisabeth Sunday, born in 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio, is an African American abstract photographer. She moved to Oakland, California, in 1961, and became interested in photography as a teenager. After attending Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif. (1976-1980), Sunday lived in Paris, France (1980-1984), where she began experimenting with optical and reflective distortion and produced her early portfolio of botanical images "Transitions." She returned to California in 1984 and subsequently produced numerous portfolios of work, including "Sonoran Desert" (1985-86), "Africa I-IV" (1986-1990) and "Africa V-VIII" (2000-2012) depicting indigenous people of Africa, and "Mystics and Healers" (1994-1995) depicting religious practicioners in Southern Asia and the Pacific. Her work has been exhibited primarily in California, and her first photographic monograph "Grace" was published in 2012.

Call Number

Sc Photo Portfolio (Sunday, E.)

OCLC

1284924879

Author

Sunday, Elisabeth, photographer.

Title

The African portfolios / Elisabeth Sunday.

Production

1987-1990.

Type of Content

still image

Type of Medium

unmediated

Type of Carrier

sheet

Terms Of Use

Collection is under copyright; permission of the copyright holder is required for duplication.

Biography

Elisabeth Sunday, born in 1958 in Cleveland, Ohio, is an African American abstract photographer. She moved to Oakland, California, in 1961, and became interested in photography as a teenager. After attending Humboldt State University, Arcata, Calif. (1976-1980), Sunday lived in Paris, France (1980-1984), where she began experimenting with optical and reflective distortion and produced her early portfolio of botanical images "Transitions." She returned to California in 1984 and subsequently produced numerous portfolios of work, including "Sonoran Desert" (1985-86), "Africa I-IV" (1986-1990) and "Africa V-VIII" (2000-2012) depicting indigenous people of Africa, and "Mystics and Healers" (1994-1995) depicting religious practicioners in Southern Asia and the Pacific. Her work has been exhibited primarily in California, and her first photographic monograph "Grace" was published in 2012.

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Research Call Number

Sc Photo Portfolio (Sunday, E.)