The Walker Evans exhibition spreads across two large sections of the 3rd floor of SFMOMA – it would take more time than I had to really see it. His work captures the ordinary uniqueness of people and places. Some of his most well known work from assignments for the Farm Security Administration is difficult to look at, capturing the hard times of farmers in the heartland and Southeast. Roy Stryker, head of the FSA’s Information Division, called this work “introducing America to Americans.” But of course it is Walker Evans view of America. I liked his photos of store fronts and merchandise, to get a feel for what interested him and also what things looked like 60 to 80 years ago. I did like his statement about how he worked to get trusted by his subjects, so that he could get photos that were open and candid. I also was surprised to see his art work mixed in with the photography. Small but beautiful paintings and drawings. And I was also happy to see the publications containing his writings and collections. I never really thought about how his work was published in his time and didn’t know that he wrote accompanying text.
