A BRIGHT IDEA

You don’t have to be Einstein to have a comprehensive picture of American history. Just take an hour or two to walk through the Amon Carter’s “100 Great American Photographs” exhibit. From one of the earliest images made in America (a 1840 daguerreotype) to digital photos, this show contains 100 of the most interesting in the AC’s 30,000-image collection. We mentioned it in the current issue’s calendar, so you may have–good D Home readers that you are–already seen it. But if you (like me until this past weekend) have delayed, I implore you, go!

A few highlights: Einstein (by Clara Sipprell, shown), JFK and Jackie campaigning in Boston, Geronimo, Abraham Lincoln, Civil Rights and Great Depression shots, and a favorite of mine, Keith Carter’s “Fireflies,” an enchanting dream-like evocation of summer. And, don’t forget to read the captions, or you’ll miss fascinating stories about the photographers and their subjects. This one made me laugh: Photographer Arthur Fellig who became known as “Weegee” for his ability to predict the site of every disaster and who prided himself on his ability to arrive before police officers at a scene, in fact had a police scanner in his trunk. Good stuff.