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shannonm's review
4.0
As in many art world couples (Krasner and Pollock anyone?) Sam Wagstaff has been overshadowed by his relationship with Robert Mapplethorpe, so it's wonderful that this book finally gives him the attention he deserves. Wagstaff was an art world visionary in his own right as a curator, mentor and collector. But it was through his unique eye for collecting some of the world's greatest photography that he's most well-known. At a time when photography still lived on the fringes of the arts, he helped to legitimize its place in the Art world. His world class collection was eventually acquired by the Getty Museum and was the basis from which the Department of Photography was partly born. The book also provides a perspective on the art world and gay culture in late 70s and 80s NYC, and sadly reminds all of us what was lost by the devastation of AIDS.
However, my biggest critique is the structure of this book. It's organized both chronologically and by theme, and went back and forth, which I found really irritating because it meant there was often repetition. Perhaps I am being picky but there were times when I found myself getting bored in places and this subject IS NOT boring. Still, for anyone interested in photography this is a great read. Now I need to go watch Black, White + Gray (the documentary on Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe).
However, my biggest critique is the structure of this book. It's organized both chronologically and by theme, and went back and forth, which I found really irritating because it meant there was often repetition. Perhaps I am being picky but there were times when I found myself getting bored in places and this subject IS NOT boring. Still, for anyone interested in photography this is a great read. Now I need to go watch Black, White + Gray (the documentary on Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe).
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