A new exhibition tracing a century of stage, screen and celebrity photography is being presented at the Hundred Heroines Photo Museum in Nailsworth.
Stardust is showing at Hundred Heroines’ new location in Pensile Road and is being staged in collaboration with Sisters of the Lens. The exhibition explores the women who shaped the image of celebrity during the 20th century, bringing together images of well-known figures from film, theatre, music and popular culture.
A preview was held on Friday evening, with internationally acclaimed photographer Jillian Edelstein among those attending. The exhibition includes a selection of her portraits, alongside images of early movie stars Vivienne Leigh, Marlene Dietrich and Tallulah Bankhead.
Portraits from Quentin Crisp to Yoko Ono
Edelstein’s contribution spans different periods of her career. Her photographs on display include monochrome portraits of writer and actor Quentin Crisp, as well as more recent images of musicians Amy Winehouse and Yoko Ono.
The subjects represented in the exhibition also include designer Vivienne Westwood, actor Toby Jones, actor Sandra Oh, singer Marianne Faithfull, ballet dancers Darcey Bussell and Jonathan Cope. The selection shows the range of public figures whose identities have been recorded and shaped through portrait photography.
Edelstein told Stroud Times that curator Del Barrett had selected a number of portraits she had taken over the years. She said many of the photographs were made using medium- and large-format film cameras, probably from the 1990s onwards.
“My involvement with this exhibition is that the curator, Del Barrett, has chosen a number of portrait images of mine that I’ve taken through the years.”
“I think a lot of them were taken on medium and large format [film] cameras, so probably from the 90s onwards.”
Photographer’s international career
Edelstein was born in South Africa and began her career as a press photographer. She later moved to London in the 1980s to study photojournalism, and her work has been published in international publications including Vogue and the New York Times Magazine.
Her work forms part of an exhibition that connects early cinema stars with contemporary celebrity portraits, while also focusing on the role of women in creating and influencing public images during the 20th century.
Opening night and visitor information
Del Barrett, the founder and chair of Hundred Heroines, said the preview had drawn a strong response, describing the gallery as packed and highlighting the contribution of the team and volunteers who helped bring the exhibition together.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better opening night. The gallery was packed and there was a real buzz in the space.”
“It was magical to see Stardust finally come to life. A great way to begin the next chapter of Hundred Heroines, and a big shout out to the team and all the volunteers who helped make it happen.”
Stardust is open at the Hundred Heroines Photo Museum from Thursday to Saturday, between 11am and 4pm. Additional works are displayed in Mortimer Gardens in Nailsworth. The exhibition is scheduled to run until November 20.