- Brownie Harris, world renowned photographer.
opens with and exhibition of portraits spanning 40 years
Oct. 1 – Dec. 1, 2008
Intimate moments and powerful images that showcase not only great American icons,but also an array of Charlestonians are taken from the vast archive of work by the man who began his career in 1972 in New York City. In this new exhibition of over 40 photographs, people can catch an extraordinary glimpse into the lives and spirits of John F. Kennedy Jr., Miles Davis, James Earl Jones, Truman Capote, Sophia Loren, among others, as well as local legends Ben Long, William McCullough and Tyler Blanton.
Harris’ portraits will be presented in Charleston, S.C., from Oct. 1 – Dec. 1, 2008.
Unique in his ability to capture the authentic spirit of his subject in a fraction of a second, Harris demonstrates an innate awareness and ability to subtly reveal their joys, sorrows and unspoken mysteries through his lens. His photograph of John F. Kennedy Jr., taken in 1987, was chosen from over 6,000 by the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum for its warmth and depth of character. It then served as the inspiration for artist Thayer Layton in a commissioned painting, which now hangs in the museum. “It served as a touchtone for the public in their grief over the untimely death of John F. Kennedy Jr.,” says Rebecca Pierce, chairwoman of the museum. The photograph was also featured in both a December 2007 PEOPLE Magazine and Time Inc. book “Gone Too Soon” and as the cover for the Penguin Group Publishers book “Forever Young: My Friendship with John F. Kennedy Jr.”
Harris’ work has also been featured in Forbes Magazine, Time Magazine, Newsweek and the New York Times, and his travels have taken him as far as the Bedouin Desert. His heart lies closer to home now as he celebrates family life with a wife and two young daughters in Wilmington, N.C. “It has been a great honor to work with American legends in my career,” says Harris, “but in this phase of my life, I am drawn to photograph the layperson, the family down the street. Everyone has a story to tell, and capturing the spirit of someone who is not a public figure can be much more challenging, though equally rewarding.” To that end, Brownie Harris will be working on an upcoming project for Legends Magazine.
People have asked, Why Charleston? What brings you here? Harris ventures. “I tell them that Charleston is my second home. It is a place that lures me in with its vitality and colorful characters, and it’s pretty darn beautiful too. During a photo shoot for the Market Pavilion, I remember being up on the roof, watching the moon rise over the harbor, and smelling that scent of salty air and pluff mud blowing across the peninsula. From that moment on I was hooked.” Harris has since been an active member in the Charleston community, even providing a Live Auction Portrait Session at The Circle of Light Gala 2007 to benefit Darkness To Light.
Harris’ repertoire also includes architecture, industrial masterpieces and lifetime memories. His most recent photographs and portraits can be seen in the Baker Motor Company‘s Fine Art Book, Legends Magazine and Garden & Gun Magazine. He is frequently commissioned for both private and corporate photography. After 23 years in New York and Paris, he now resides in Wilmington, North Carolina where he continues to work in all aspects of photography, which can be seen at www.brownieharris.com.
The Real Estate Studio at 214 King St. will be hosting the exhibition as well as the opening night celebration on Oct. 3, 2008, at 6 p.m. For more information, please email RSVP@dunesproperties.com.