Our Town
Wynwood’s Warehouse Showcases Art and Lectures

Story and Photos by Irene Sperber

Photographer and lecturer John Szarkowski at the Warehouse in Wynwood

The 45,000 square-foot converted Warehouse in Wynwood houses the most recent acquisitions from the Margulies Collection. The extensive works include contemporary and vintage photography, video, sculpture and installation; cutting edge work by both established and emerging artists. About 10,000 square-feet of exhibition space were added in 2004 to house the growing collection of Martin Z. Margulies.

In addition to the Margulies Collection, the Warehouse presents insightful guest lectures from renowned curators and artists several times a year. There’s always an interesting mix of people who attend the events held in the exhibition space, so you can arrive early to take in this stunningly comprehensive collection.

Last week at Margulies, I attended a lecture, slide presentation and book signing by one of the most influential photographic curators and critics of the 20^th Century and beyond:  John Szarkowski.  He was curator of photography at the Museum of Modern Art in New York from 1962 to 1991.  He is also an exceptionally accomplished photographer in his own right.  His book, John Szarkowski – Photographs, is described by the New York Times as  “a book of breathtaking beauty - a connoisseur's anthology of superlative photographic accomplishment.”

John Szarkowski signs copies of his book

The next lecture will be in the fall and will feature Canadian photographer Jeff Wall. He is “one of the most intriguing and influential artists working today”,  according to the Tate Modern, which presented an exhibition of Wall’s work in 2005.   A contemporary artist known for his transparencies mounted on light boxes, he blends modern subject matter with references to art history.  He is also an art theorist, so he should prove to be a thoughtful and informed lecturer.