Before photos were snapped on phones and editing was done with a click of a mouse, Julius Friedmanwas creating images the old fashioned way – with his hands, his imagination and lighting.
The Louisville native and internationally recognized photographer, artist and graphic designer’s work has been exhibited at museums across North America, Asia and Europe including the Museum of Modern Art, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, National Gallery of Art, and the National Museum of Poster Art (Warsaw, Poland). A resident of the Highlands, Friedman has co-owned the Chapman Friedman Gallery Louisville (624 W Main St), which represents contemporary regional, national, and international artists, for more than 30 years.
Now for first time, his awe-inspiring collection made up of more than 200 images, will be displayed at the Frazier History Museum (829 West Main Street ) and Republic Bank banking centers.
The exhibit, Julius Friedman: Fifty Year Retrospective, is a celebration of life and features the iconic posters that have become a part of the international arts and culture community, including “Toe on Egg,” Friedman’s famous Louisville Ballet poster of a dancer’s shoe balanced on an egg, and his “Fresh Paint” poster, featuring three egg yolks in the primary colors.
Friedman will also debut a new and multi-sensory exhibit, inspired by the movement and emotion of nature. It will provide visitors a visual, audio and tactile experience that challenges convention, motivates curiosity, and inspires reflection.
“The museum is thrilled to have the opportunity to share this Louisville icon’s work with the community,” says Penny Peavler, President/CEO, The Frazier History Museum.
A Delicious Opening
Friedman didn’t want just any ordinary opening exhibit celebration, instead the artist and The Frazier History Museum invited 30 children attending the museum’s summer camp to re-create Friedman’s famous “Ice Cream in French Horn” poster made originally in 1983 for the Louisville Orchestra. Gelato Gilberto donated gelato, and Friedman provided the artistic direction. Although, truth told, Friedman’s only request was that the children use their creativity with the ice cream before they eat it all.
The children were given seven minutes to fill the French horn. They filled it up in less than four, then began the process of eating it, which Friedman had begun during the scooping process.
Friedman referred to all of the kids as “his collaborators.” “This is the biggest collaboration of my career,” he says.
Spring Flood Inspires New Work
Republic Bank will expand the exhibit beyond the museum walls and to its own banking centers. To further celebrate the Frazier exhibit, Friedman created a new poster, which is free to view at ten Republic Bank locations across Louisville.
This Julius Friedman self-portrait was born out of crisis during a spring flood. As the torrential rain poured in on the Louisville artist’s Highlands home, Friedman paused to observe the beauty of the moisture caused by the rain on a window pane in his house. With a photographer’s eye and an artist’s touch, Friedman placed his hand on the pane to create an image of dimension, light, and color as well as patience, reflection and perspective.
In addition to this poster, 27 additional images from Friedman’s iconic collection will be placed at Republic Bank locations in Kentucky and southern Indiana.
“Julius Friedman has had his work exhibited around the world, and we are honored to be able to showcase it at our local banking centers,” says Steve DeWeese, Executive Vice President of Republic Bank & Trust Company.
The exhibit at The Frazier Museum runs from June 24 through October 9.
