West and Clear podcast: Barbara Crane

by Steve Smith of West and Clear

Barbara Crane is known in the world of art photography as an artist and a teacher but above all as an experimenter. Although she started off as a portrait photographer and some of her early work in Chicago definitely is reminiscent of the Lee Friedlander school of street photography, much of the work on display at her career retrospective at the Amon Carter Museum shows a willingness to try new styles and new technologies. I was fortunate enough to spend a few minutes walking though the galleries with Crane last week where we talked about her work.

One reason I was excited to talk to her was her work with Polaroid in the 1970s and the 1980s. Even though some people may think of the point-and-shoot vacation photos from childhood, but a Polaroid in the hands of an expert like Barbara Crane is a little different thing. “The bright reds and the blues and cyans in the sky are completely different that you get with other cameras,” she said. When I asked her why her Polaroids were better than someone like, say, me. “It’s all about the light.”

In her current work, Crane is embracing digital photography and printing. How many photos will you see in a museum art show that are printed on an inkjet printer like Coloma to Covert: Sandwich?

Take a few minutes to listen to Crane explain her work, and then go to the Carter and see it for yourself. It’s beautiful work.