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Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Timothy Egan highlights Edward S. Curtis’ photographic quest at April 27 presentation

Timothy Egan
Timothy Egan by Barry Wong

Author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Timothy Egan will discuss highlights of Edward S. Curtis’ quest to document tribes across the nation at a free lecture scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 27 at the Mount Baker Theatre.

The presentation is the signature event of the Whatcom Museum exhibition Mingled Visions: Images from The North American Indian by Edward S. Curtis, on display through May 10, 2015. Egan’s talk will give context to the Museum’s exhibition and share background on Curtis’ life and work, which spanned decades and resulted in 20 published volumes of more than 40,000 images.

Egan’s book, Short Nights of the Shadow Catcher: The Epic Life and Immortal Photographs of Edward S. Curtis, is a riveting biography of the famous photographer. The book is the recipient of many awards and has appeared on many bestseller lists, including The New York Times, Publishers Weekly and The Christian Science Monitor.

Princess Angeline
Princess Angeline by Edward S. Curits, plate 314, 1899

Describing Curtis as “Indiana Jones with a camera,” Egan details the photographer’s ambitious quest and journey “from detached observer to outraged advocate.” At once an incredible adventure narrative and a penetrating biographical portrait, Egan’s book follows him throughout Indian country, from desert to rainforest, as he struggled to document the stories and rituals of more than eighty tribes. Egan’s book has been described by various reviewers as “riveting,” “hauntingly beautiful,” “marvelous and rollicking,” and “a gracefully written biography and adventure story.”

Egan’s presentation, which is free and open to the public, is hosted by the Bellingham Public Library, the Whatcom Museum and Village Books, with funding from the Friends of the Bellingham Public Library. Seating is first come-first served, and doors open by 6:30 p.m. for the 7 p.m. event. Village Books will provide copies of Egan’s books for purchase, and his talk will be followed by a book signing. More information at www.bellinghampubliclibrary.org and www.whatcommuseum.org .

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About Timothy Egan:
Seattle-based Timothy Egan is the author of seven books, a long-time journalist and a graduate of the University of Washington. His nonfiction account of the Dust Bowl, The Worst Hard Time, won the 2006 National Book Award, considered one of the nation’s highest literary honors. Egan now writes an online opinion column for The New York Times. Prior to that, he roamed the West as a national correspondent for the Times. As a Times correspondent, he shared a Pulitzer Prize in 2001 with a team of reporters for the series, “How Race is Lived in America.” More information and reviews available at www.timothyeganbooks.com.

About the Mingled Visions exhibition:
With the support of President Theodore Roosevelt, the financial backing of J.P. Morgan, and the help of many talented assistants, Edward S. Curtis spent three decades documenting more than 80 tribes west of the Mississippi. Featuring 40 original photogravures from Edward S. Curtis’ epic work, Mingled Visions: Images from The North American Indian by Edward S. Curtis is on view at the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building, 250 Flora Street, through May 10, 2015. Curtis is reputedly the most widely collected fine art photographer (public and private collections) in the U.S. and possibly the world. Mingled Visions is organized by the Dubuque Museum of Art, Dubuque Iowa.

Media Contacts

Janice Keller, Communications, Community Relations and Programming Manager, Bellingham Public Library, 360-778-7206 or jkeller@cob.org

Christina Claassen, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, Whatcom Museum, 360-778-8936 or cmclaassen@cob.org