Hello and welcome to Spotlight on the Arts.
I'm Tom McNamara.
Since its founding in 1975, the Center for Creative
Photography is one of the most important places in the world
for the study of the history of photography.
And it's located right here
on the University of Arizona campus.
This year, the Center continues its legacy with the North
American debut of the Linda McCartney Retrospective.
Now, this show features 176 photographs
and some additional archival material that spans her career.
From 1965 to 1997.
Of course, being married to her husband, Paul McCartney,
gave Linda
a phenomenal behind the scenes access to The Beatles,
and she was the first woman photographer
to have a photo on the cover of Rolling Stone magazine.
And you may remember that iconic photo.
Here to tell us a little bit more about the Linda McCartney
Retrospective at the Center for Creative Photography
is that institution's chief curator Becky Senf.
Becky, thank you so much for joining us.
Linda McCartney,
when you even hear the name, it touches your heart.
Her connection to Tucson is deep
and sentimental and forever.
For those who aren't as well-versed,
haven't been here in a while,
what is Linda's connection to Tucson?
Sure.
She came to Tucson to study at the University of Arizona.
She studied art history here.
And really importantly, that's where she was introduced
to the art of photography
through a class with Hazel Larson Archer.
It was just a two class series that she attended, but
it was where she got introduced to the art of photography.
And then she moved away from Tucson.
But then she and her very famous
husband bought property in Tucson and came back.
It was so that they could keep horses
and so that she could nurture her connection
to the Sonoran Desert, which she really felt very close to.
And talking about the exhibit, tell us about it.
And let me ask you, what are we going to learn about
Linda McCartney and The Beatles from the exhibit?
The exhibition is organized into three sections,
so the initial portion is her family photography, and it's
where you see her and Paul falling in love.
And those photographs
of their early relationship are so beautiful and so tender,
and they really show the mutual respect
and the playfulness between the two of them.
And then you see
the kids be born and grow up within the family.
I think those pictures are really special and important.
Then there's a section of her photographs of artists,
which include all of the rock musicians
she photographed, Janis Joplin and Aretha Franklin and
The Doors and The Beatles.
And so people are going to recognize
a lot of those photographs, and that's going to bring back
all of their close connections to those musicians.
And then we have
a special section in this exhibition
about her photographic exploration,
where you'll see her working in different processes and media,
learning about how to create different kinds of prints,
and a wonderful section of Polaroid prints
where she's making quick prints and snapshots and family
photographs that are part of her personal archive.
Is there a part of her exhibit that really touches your heart
the most? Really speaks to you?
I, for me,
I think it's the family photographs and watching her,
watch her family
and the way that she appreciates her connection with Paul
and the space that she gives her kids
to grow up in this very famous and unusual family.
You can really see and feel all of that in the photographs.
And I find it, I found it very poignant, truthfully.
How are people reacting to it?
What's sort of been the vibe among those who've seen it?
People have been really excited.
We've had such a positive response.
The galleries have been full, and on our opening day,
our opening
community day,
I had somebody come out of the gallery and he said,
seeing the exhibition
and all these photographs makes me want to sing.
And it was really very touching.
I think that the photographs are bringing people closer
to things that are really important and moving to them.
And I think that Linda provides a very intimate and easy access
to her subjects in a way
that makes the photographs feel really accessible.
If you didn't know her before now, and most people never met
her personally,
I bet that exhibit, as you're saying, really
helps you to get to know her.
I think it does,
and I mean, quite frankly, Paul McCartney, too.
I think seeing him through her lens quite literally
brings us a different kind of understanding of him.
Yeah, it's a feather in the cap of the Center
for Creative Photography to land this exhibit,
but almost as much of a feather,
it's so natural that where else would you put
Linda McCartney's work than Tucson, Arizona,
in a great institution like yours?
Yeah. We felt like it's been a real homecoming.
It really ■
it feels very sentimental to have her work at the Center
for Creative Photography, where she and Paul visited
in the past.
And to be able to put her
in a context that looks at her photographic practice,
her education here in Tucson, and the amazing rock
and roll work that she did that she's known worldwide for.
And it really almost keeps that connection
with Paul and Linda and certainly
with Paul now, the fact that, you know, her work is here, her
the traces of her life,
the memories of her life are here, and Paul and Linda
live on together in this place and always will.
I think that's really beautifully said.
Yeah.
Well, Becky, thanks so much for joining us.
We appreciate it.
And you can see the Linda McCartney Retrospective
on display at the Center for Creative Photography
right here on the University of Arizona campus.
From now until August 5th, 2023.
Thanks for watching Spotlight on the Arts.
I'm Tom McNamara, and we'll see you again soon.