NH Institute of Art to Exhibit Thomas Adams' Unique Collection of Original Photos Oct. 4 - 31

MANCHESTER, NH, October 04, 2010 (Press-News.org) The New Hampshire Institute of Art will host the first public exhibit of original photographs from the private collection of Thomas Adams at the French Building Gallery in Manchester from October 4 - 31, 2010 with an opening reception from 5-7 pm on Monday, Oct. 4. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

The photos span seven decades and include several iconic images such as Annie Leibovitz capturing dancers Mikhail Baryshnikov and Linda Dowell, Todd Webb's "Georgia O'Keefe in the Twilight Canyon," and George Daniell's 1955 image of Sophia Loren in Rome.

Thomas Adams began his lifelong passion for photography when he used a Kodak Bullet Camera to capture President Dwight D. Eisenhower's address on the steps of the New Hampshire State Capitol. After more than three decades in education, he enrolled in a course in photography at the Maine College of Art in Portland, where he opened Radiant Light Gallery. This gallery featured works of world-class photographers specializing in photojournalistic and figurative imagery.

Adams began collecting photography in the 1990s when he purchased Todd Webb's image of the grand dame of modern painting Georgia O'Keefe and Annie Leibovitz's image of an Olympic rower taken in Hanover, NH. Since then he has collected scores of images of which more than 50 will be exhibited at the Institute.

The Adams collection is focused primarily on vintage and contemporary images which explore humankind - its lifestyles, its customs and relationships, through portraiture, figurative studies, and "street" or document photography. Although he has collected images of world-class photographers such as Annie Leibovitz, George Platt Lynes, George Daniell, and Steve McCurry, he is particularly fond of photos from artists that are not as well known, such as Myron Wood, Rolf Koppel, Douglas Prince, Ralph Gibson, Todd Webb, and Michael Piveronas. Original photos from all of these artists are included in the exhibit. A preview of the exhibit with additional information is available at http://www.nhia.edu.

"Every photograph is a self-portrait through which the artist reveals a viewpoint. The viewer may make a connection to the image through their own experience. My collection is a reflection of images through which I have found interconnectivity, and I am very pleased show them at an Institute that excels at engaging students in art and learning through an engaged faculty that truly serve as mentors to these students," Adams said. "I am particularly excited about showing photos from several artists who are lesser known, but whose work equals, if not surpasses those with a star-like reputation."
A lifelong New Hampshire resident, Adams completed 27 years as executive director of the Manchester Education Association in 2007 and enrolled at the New Hampshire Institute of Art to major in photography.

"Thom is passionate about everything he is involved in. We are very fortunate to have him bring his impressive collection to the Institute not only for public viewing, but so our students can see such fine original artistic photos, study them, and learn from them," said Roger Williams, president of the NH Institute of Art.

On October 28, 2010, as the exhibition prepares to close, the Institute will host a panel discussion on collecting photographs. Thomas Adams will join other collectors for this public event and additional details will be released shortly.

About the NH Institute of Art: The Institute was established as the Manchester Institute of Arts and Sciences in 1898. From the Institute's outset, it has had a firm commitment to educating diverse traditional and nontraditional students in the fine arts. As an art college accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, the Institute offers the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, Certificate Programs and a strong Continuing Education program. Dedicated faculty promote intellectual and artistic development and teach students to respond artistically to contemporary social, political, and aesthetic issues.