June 30, 2008 - September 13, 2008
The Museum of Printing History
1324 West Clay Street, Houston, TX 77019 Tel: (713) 522-4652
Museum Hours: Tuesday through Saturday, 10am-5pm
Admission: Free
Opening Reception: Thursday, July 10, 2008 from 6-8pm
Las Vegas conjures up images of excitement, glamour and wealth.
Captured are colorful, haphazard displays of classic 50's through 70's
iconic Americana, vibrant graphics and fabulous font styles reminiscent
of a glorious past. These photographs celebrate memories of a heritage
of greatness with original Las Vegas signs that have aged and now lie in
a state of disrepair behind a locked privacy fence in stark and arid
outskirts located in the unglamorous
side of Las Vegas.
The artist became fascinated with the evolution taking place in Las
Vegas. Once she discovered the signs at the Neon Museum located on the
outskirts of Las Vegas, it took months to pin down an appointment. The
shoot took place under strict guidelines and supervision. Museum staff
would soon be clamping down on visits, due to the onslaught of requests
for filming music videos and popular magazine shoots. Despite the
obvious kitsch aspect of
these vintage rusted treasures, the artist states, "I wanted to
share this place from a more historical viewpoint". Images are
exhibited courtesy of the Neon Museum, Las Vegas, Nevada.
A native Texan, Marilyn Davenport grew up in a creative household
environment and developed
an interest in photography from an early age. Today she shoots in
digital SLR, 35mm, and medium film formats. Ms. Davenport sees the
camera as a tool to express creativity, convey a message or simply to
create pieces that are pleasing to the eye. With a degree in Advertising
Art, Ms. Davenport continues to be involved in higher
education serving on advisory boards and portfolio review boards. She
has managed wet dark rooms, digital labs and photo studios, as well as
served as an apprentice to several award-winning fashion and commercial
photographers. Her work has received recognition in juried competitions
and has been exhibited in several museums, galleries, libraries,
Fotofest, and Houston City Hall.
The Museum of Printing History is funded in part by grants from the
City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.
