Mark late summer calendars now for a special exhibition. The Buena Vista Heritage Museum will present the exhibit “Edward S. Curtis: Unpublished Alaska” comprised of unpublished Edward Curtis photographs taken in Alaska, on loan from the Curtis Legacy Foundation. This show opens on August 1 and runs through August 15.
This exhibit is based on the recently released book Edward S. Curtis: Unpublished Alaska, Photographs and Personal Journals written by Coleen and John Graybill. Graybill is the great-grandson of Edward Curtis, and their foundation is based in Buena Vista.
After spending more than 30 years photographing and documenting the North American Natives, Curtis became world-renowned for his portrayal of Native life prior to assimilation.
His three-decades of work culminated in a 20-volume encyclopedia with a portfolio of additional large photogravure prints to accompany each volume. Every image included depicted the life, beauty, and dignity of the Native Peoples he came to hold in high esteem.
Image courtesy of Coleen Graybill.
Curtis takes you on his harrowing journey on the Bering Sea in the summer of 1927. His first-hand accounts, as written in his personal journal, bring to life his final field season to complete The North American Indian project.
This Alaskan voyage is an example of the tenacity it took for Curtis to complete his grand opus. Between the towering gale-driven seas breaking over the deck, the blizzard snow conditions, the falling barometers, and the hole in the boat, it is a miracle he and his crew lived to tell this story.
Included with excerpts from Curtis’ historic journal will be 16 of the 100 previously unpublished photographs that are included in the book. These images have been seen by only a few people. They add cultural and genealogical information to Alaska’s already rich history and delight every Curtis fan across the globe.
Coleen and John Graybill will be giving two different presentations, talking about his great-grandfather’s life and work, and how they are carrying the Curtis legacy forward with their Descendants Project and this book. They will also be on hand for book signings of the 300-page coffee table book that is also for sale; an important addition to personal libraries.
“Edward S. Curtis: Unpublished Alaska” Exhibit Schedule:
August 7
- 3:00 p.m. Book Signing
- 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Edward S. Curtis: The Legacy and the Man by Coleen & John Graybill
- 5:30 p.m. Book signing following presentation
August 14
- 3:00 p.m. Book Signing
- 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Edward S. Curtis: Unpublished Alaska by Coleen & John Graybill
- 5:30 p.m. Book signing following presentation
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