Historic Photo Processes: The Pinhole Camera
 Have you ever wished for a non-technical gadget—one that doesn’t require batteries or electricity? Have you ever wondered about the first camera? Join us on Sunday, April 25, at the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery for a peek at a historical device that is still used by photographers today: the pinhole camera. This presentation, led by Jane Stevens, Associate Curator of Art for the ISM Chicago gallery, is part of a series of free public lectures, newly dubbed Perspectives, offered with the current exhibition On & Of Paper. This event begins at 2:00 pm; it is free and open to the public. This is a participatory event in Worldwide Pinhole Photography Day, held each year on the last day of April, created to promote and celebrate the art of pinhole photography. The pinhole camera is a very simple, lightproof, often hand-made camera with no lens and a single, tiny aperture. Also known as the camera obscura, the pinhole camera was first invented in 1021 AD, though people have experimented with the basic facets of the camera since the 4th century BC. Since then, many scholars, artists, scientists, and inventors (ie. Leonardo da Vinci) have experimented with the camera, offering additional information about the camera, such as the formula to calculate the optimal pinhole diameter for a particular size box. Jane Stevens—curator, photography instructor, and published photographer—will offer her perspective on the pinhole camera at this informal, but informative, lecture. On & Of Paper offers a selection from the Illinois State Museum collection of relief, intaglio, and planographic prints, photographs, drawings, painting, and multi-media constructions which utilize the same material: paper. Paper has for centuries served as a versatile, readily available, and relatively affordable material for the artist. Paper is a core element, whether it be folded, molded, painted, torn, glued, or otherwise altered in the creation of a finished piece. It serves as a support; its texture, weave, and color contribute significantly to the final image. Paper plays a critical role in the creative process, too, offering a surface on which to sketch and test. This exhibition runs through July 30. During On & Of Paper, the Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery will offer several free public lectures through its Perspectives series, popular Sunday events, that explore the ideas and themes related to the exhibition. Presenters will offer not only their expertise and knowledge, but also their “perspectives” on collage (May 23) and on the exhibition, itself (June 27). Please call the ISM Lockport Gallery or visit our website for information. Admission is free. The Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery is located on the first floor of the historic Norton Building at 201 West 10th Street in Lockport, Illinois, and is fully accessible to all physically challenged individuals. Museum hours are noon until 5:00 pm on Sunday and 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. The Museum is closed Saturdays and State Holidays. Admission is free. For information on exhibitions and related programs, becoming a member of the Friends of the Lockport Gallery, directions to the museum, or to schedule a group tour of ten or more, please contact museum staff at (815) 838-7400 or visit the museum online at https://www.museum.state.il.us/ismsites/lockport/. The Illinois State Museum Lockport Gallery is part of the Illinois State Museum system, including sites in Springfield, Rend Lake, Chicago, and Lewistown.
Monday, April 05, 2010
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Illinois State Museum
Founded 1877
The Illinois State Museum promotes discovery, learning, and an appreciation of Illinois' natural, cultural, and artistic heritage.
General Information: (217)782-7386
Director's Office: (217)782-7011
Interim Museum Director: Michael Wiant
Press Contact: michael.wiant@illinois.gov
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