Hugh Mangum Photography at Muzeo

We took a trip to the always fascinating local cultural mecca, Muzeo, in Anaheim, home to the OG Disneyland.

I’m going to be lazy and let the pictures do most of the heavy lifting for this post.  The main exhibit at Muzeo right now features the photography of Hugh Mangum, who plied his trade in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s. Traveling by train to set up temporary studios, he captured his subjects where they lived. After his death from complications of the flu epidemic in 1922, his photography studio was packed up and moved to an old barn on family property, to be rediscovered in the 1970’s.  I think the flaws created by the ravages of 50 years in a weather-beaten out building add an aura of alchemy to the portraits.

The facial expressions in these images are what I find most interesting.  Compared to how we approach photographs of ourselves now, striving to prove our joy in the moment, many of these folks appear to simply want their “picture made,” as they say in the south. Remember, photography wasn’t just point and shoot in those days; it was a production that demanded an extensive set up by the photographer and patience in the sitter, who treated this as a unique and special occasion, usually wearing their Sunday best.

That brings me to my other favorite aspect of these photos – the clothing.  Dresses with lace collars and scrolling details, suits with vests and either ties or high buttoned collars, an array of hats for both men and women.  I even enjoyed checking out the buttons and small broaches.  And you may notice that except for a few pair of earrings, there isn’t much jewelry to be seen, probably because many of these folks were working class people who couldn’t afford frivolous fripperies.

The beautiful scroll work, buttons and fresh-picked rose on this young lady’s dress, above.

Above, a look at his studio set up, which I don’t think was meant for a companion bicycle 🙂 And the expression on the girls’ face!

Above – the type of glass plate negative used allowed two separate photo’s to be made on the one plate, resulting in interesting combinations. Is that Pat Sajak’s great-grandfather?!

I left the one above LARGE so you could enjoy these two ladies sticking their heads out of newspapers ?!?!

THE HATS!!!

A camera similar to the one Mangum used.

The glass plate negatives

The Man Himself, above.

Double exposure-kinda eerie.

Good dogs!

Kinda creepy…

That outfit! *Chef’s Kiss*

Viewers were invited to answer questions about the photos–I thought this one was the best!

Hope you liked these images as much as I did.  I wonder what these folks would think about digital cameras and selfies!

If you’re in the SoCal area, stop by and take in this exhibit before June 23.  Next door, in the Carnegie Gallery (yes, it’s one of the original Carnegie Libraries), there are two exhibits, plus the permanent Anaheim artifacts display. 

Mapping the Gay Guides is a project that “intends to correct the cultural erasure of historical geography” of queer experience in the 60’s and 70’s, using the guidebooks of Bob Damron.

Impossibly Close – Sculptures by Kazu Hiro blew us away!  Hiro, an Oscar winning makeup artist, creates larger than life sculptures so lifelike, you swear they’ll wink at you.  The hair… the pores in the skin… the moist eyes!