The untimely passing of Linda McCartney back in 1998 closed the

lens on one of the more gifted photographers of our time.  Although best

known as the wife and soul mate of ex-Beatle Paul McCartney, years before

she married Paul back in 1969, Linda became a pioneer in Rock 'n Roll

photography.

One of her earliest assignments was for the magazine Vanity Fair, when she

used her quiet and precise savvy to capture some of the first photographs

of the Rolling Stones on their first USA tour in 1964.

Subsequently, it didn't take Linda long to establish a reputation for

capturing striking and candid images of the most creative artists in the

Rock 'n Roll lexicon.

Linda's photos of Jimi Hendrix that grace the inside liner of Electric

Ladyland capture a softer side of Hendrix offstage with children in a

playground; her early shots of Stevie Winwood at Cortchfeld cottage radiate

the intense nature of that artist captured in an expansive setting; and her

images of Jim Morrison at the Whiskey A Go Go remain some of the most

dramatic portraits of The Doors captured on film.

Regardless of her subject, Linda always managed to define the essence of

her subject matter on film.  And while she is most commonly associated with

'personality portraits', a new exhibition making its way to the Saginaw Art

Museum reveals a different angle to the myriad images of Linda McCartney,

especially her keen eye for composition and skill in capturing fleeting

moments.

Entitled Roadworks, this exhibition features 90 photos of Linda's

chronicling 20 years of the artist's life while traveling with her husband

and their band Wings on the road.

The exhibit will be displayed on the 2nd Floor of the Saginaw Art Museum's

galleries from March 1 - April 28th.  Additionally, a Free Preview Party

will take place on Thursday, Feb. 28th, from 6- 9 PM.

Drawing artistic inspiration from the likes of Walker Evans, depression-era

photographer Dorothea Lange, and Edward Weston, Linda's own unique style is

internationally acclaimed for its unposed subjects and natural lighting.

Throughout her career, Linda received numerous awards, including U.S.

Female Photographer of the Year and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the

Center for Photographic Art.  Today, more than 60 galleries worldwide have

exhibited her work.

A committed vegetarian, ecologist, and animal rights activist,

Linda often used her photography to help promote various causes. She

published seven books of her pictures, including the Roadworks series.

Indeed, gazing over the images committed to film in Roadworks, one often

catches the solitary nature of the human condition - a single soldier

standing guard outside a prison; a lone child watching the sunset on a

beach in Africa - as well as the tragi-comedy of existence - a bug sprayer

on an empty road, or people dumping trash into a warehouse with a sign that

says 'Working for a Better Tomorrow'.

Roadworks offers an exceptional perspective of an artist working outside of

the 'personality portraits' that made her famous, and a unique opportunity

for tri-city residents to survey the power of this work up-close.

In conjunction with this exhibit, the Saginaw Art Museum is conducting a

Creative Photography seminar on Saturdays in April from 1-3 PM for children

12-15 years with area photographer David Williams.  The cost is $20.00 for

members and $25.00 for non-members.

Additionally, the Saginaw Art Museum is sponsoring a Poetry Competition

tied into the exhibit. View the Roadworks exhibit and write a poem based

upon the work viewed. You may enter up to 3 typed poems and entry forms are

available at the Saginaw Art Museum, 1126 N. Michigan Ave. and at local

businesses throughout Saginaw. Entry forms must be included with poems and

the deadline for submissions is April 5th.  No entry fee is needed and you

can contact Kara Harris at the museum for further information.

Admission to the Roadworks exhibit is $5.00 per adult. Museum members and

children 12 and under are admitted free.

Roadworks is sponsored by Sir Paul McCartney, McCartney Productions Ltd.,

Mobile Medical Response of Saginaw, and the Michigan Council for Arts &

Cultural Affairs.

For further information, please contact Mary Malocha, curator of the

Saginaw Art Museum at 989-754-2491.