Los Angeles: Photographs by Ann Summa
Curated by Kristine McKenna
Track 16 Gallery
November 17-December 15, 2007
Exhibition Poster/Mailer, double sided, folded in four. Published on the occasion of the exhibition: A graduate of Beloit College, Ann Summa was returning from five years in Sierra Leone, Africa, and Tokyo, Japan when she landed in the midst of L.A.s newly-born punk scene in 1978. She immediately recognized that she had stumbled onto something extraordinary and began documenting the people around her. Summa captured some of the best known bands to emerge from L.A. while they were still in their infancyX and Black Flag, among othersand bands who went on to achieve legendary status despite the brevity of their existence, including the Germs and the Screamers. Also on view are images of the Bags, the Alleycats, the Cramps, and the Suburban Lawns. Summa captured the many out-of-towners who passed through L.A.s first generation punk community; the Bush Tetras and Lydia Lunch from New York; U.K. punk royalty Joe Strummer and John Lydon; and, two of punks unofficial godfathers, Iggy Pop and William Burroughs. All but four of the photographs in the exhibition are previously unpublished. Taken between the years 1978 and 1984, and drawn from a recently published limited edition portfolio of 35 images, the photographs showcase the first chapter of whats been a long and varied career for Summa. Shes worked extensively in Mexico, where she maintains a second home, and has photographed hundreds of musicians, from metal-heads to country stars, over the past 25 years. Her work has been seen in dozens of magazines, both domestic and international, such as Rolling Stone, Travel and Leisure, to name a few. Summa is currently collaborating with her husband, journalist Jeff Spurrier, on Sacred Faces, a book celebrating various spiritual traditions around the world. A book of Summas punk photographs will be published by Greybull Press in 2008.
Offset print
Designed by Laurie Steelink
Overall: 24 x 30 inches
Folded: 12 x 15 inches
24 x 30 inches, 2007
