PB PHOTO CENTRE To Present Two Simultaneous Exhibitions In Downtown WPB

Fatima NeJame, president and chief executive officer of the world-renowned Palm Beach Photographic Centre (PBPC), today announced the upcoming opening of two simultaneous exhibitions:

This is the first posthumous exhibit of the works of Ralph Morse. Early in his career, the acclaimed photographer Alfred Eisenstaedt grasped his innate talent and hand-delivered Morse to the editors of LIFE Magazine. His career there spanned from being LIFE's youngest war correspondent in 1942 to photographing John Glenn's return to space in 1998. Eisenstaedt's words were prophetic: "He's going to be one of the Greats."

Forever thinking on his feet, Morse would skirt the rest of the press to configure unique angles. He would make friends on the spot and enlist them in inventing novel apparatus and avenues for seizing the moment. Captions weren't needed: His photographs themselves told the story.

"Morse pioneered and perfected multiple-exposure photography," says NeJame. "He could magically place as many as five images on one frame of film, leaving viewers spellbound-and curious. How did he do that?

Rachel Louise Brown makes photographic work based on interactions with the unfamiliar. She observes the world as a stage, exploring foreign places alone, often at night and captures photographs on a medium format film camera whilst experiencing a heightened state of displacement. Through a second process she populates the images with locations and strangers found via casting calls placed in local newspapers and online. By doing this, she attempts to immerse herself on an unpredictable journey to understand the place. The end purpose of the work created is to give locals the opportunity to experience the familiar in an alternative way.

Born in England, Brown was initially drawn to apply for the Photo Centre's residency as a way to explore why Florida is advertised as being the land of escapism, entertainment and thrills; a symbol of the American Dream. As a starting point, she explored local entertainment attractions alone and at night, including the Palm Beach Zoo, Mar-a-Lago, Fright Nights at the South Florida Fairground, and The Breakers. On a later visit, she began working with local youngsters who train to compete and to entertain an audience, such as ballerinas, gymnasts and marching bands. Collectively the work has become her solo show SIMULATIONS.

The public is invited to a FREE opening reception for both exhibitions on Friday, March 23, from 6 to 8 pm.

The Photo Centre is located at the downtown City Center municipal complex at 415 Clematis Street in downtown West Palm Beach. Hours are 10 am to 6 pm. Monday through Thursday; 10 am to 5 pm on Friday and Saturday; closed Sunday. For more information, please call 561.253.2600 or visit www.workshop.org or www.fotofusion.org.

The Palm Beach Photographic Centre is a non-profit organization dedicated to enriching life through the photographic arts. All donations are greatly appreciated at www.workshop.org/contrib.

Photo Credit: Rachel Louse Brown

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