View Rare, Lost Photographs Of Marilyn Monroe This Weekend
By Carrie McGath in Arts & Entertainment on Sep 18, 2015 7:13PM
In addition to all the sights to take in at Expo Chicago, art enthusiasts and pop culture buffs also have a chance to see rare photographs of Marilyn Monroe that were lost until recently—many taken just eight months before her death in 1962.
Luckily, the negatives were not destroyed and when found, were taken through the color separation process needed to make them complete photographs.
These negatives ended up in the possession of Pierre Vudrag, the founder of Limited Runs, an organization that sells a diverse range of posters, prints and photography, and this traveling exhibition is a result.
"Several times throughout their life span, those color separations were set to be thrown out by the printing company," he said. "Fortunately, someone wisely decided they should maybe hold on to them. Lucky for us!"
The combination of Monroe's beauty, intelligence and tragic story makes her a permanent fixture in millions of imaginations and in the fabric of the Hollywood gothic narrative. The mystery of Monroe, particularly in the months leading up to her death, grows stranger and even more beautiful in these photographs.
The photographs have traveled across the country, and after their stop in Chicago this weekend, they will end their voyage in New York City. The exhibition is at The Study Chicago on Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
"We've never taken one of our exhibits to Chicago before, and we felt that this specific exhibit would be a perfect introduction to Chicago, especially while Expo Chicago was going on," he said.
The show has several interactive features, he said, including a timeline on Marilyn Monroe's life and the aftermath of the release of her nude photos.
The photos were originally intended to be printed for about 9 million calendars called Golden Dreams, but the printer was the only person who had ever seen them until now.
1954's Marilyn Monroe and the Mime, by Gene Lester, displays a more candid side to Monroe, playful and goofy even while she is decked out like the starlet she was. Vudrag said of this image: "Marilyn was taking a cigarette break from filming on the lot. Her and Gene Lester were just goofing around with this tiny non-professional spy camera when the unknown person who was dressed either as a clown or a mime recognized Marilyn and asked for a photo."
Continuing on a candid note, the almost surreal photographs called The Visit document her afternoon with author, Carl Sandburg. These were taken eight months before her death in 1961 by Len Steckler. Here is a blissful, bohemian Monroe talking to Sandburg and listening to him play guitar. The sunglasses keep her within the movie star realm while her easygoing attitude in the photos expresses her enjoyment of stimulating conversation and interests beyond Hollywood and into the literary milieu.
Prints are available for purchase at the gallery and on the Limited Runs website, both in numbered and open editions. This pop-up exhibition is a rare treat to see Monroe in a very different light and to see even more dimension to this truly dynamic and timeless cultural figure.
The show runs Sept. 18 and 19 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., The Study Chicago, 1837 W. Fulton St.