All Of It – Episode Summary: "Groundbreaking Photojournalist At The Brooklyn Museum"

Podcast Information

• Title: All Of It
• Host: Alison Stewart
• Host Organization: WNYC
• Description: All Of It is a show about culture and its consumers, aiming to engage thinkers, doers, makers, and creators in conversations about the what and why of their work. The show celebrates the diverse perspectives that make New York City culturally vibrant.

Episode Details

• Episode Title: Groundbreaking Photojournalist At The Brooklyn Museum
• Release Date: March 17, 2025
• Air Time: Weekdays from 12:00 - 2:00 PM on WNYC
• Guests:
  • Pauline Vermar: Curator of Photography, Brooklyn Museum
  • Drew Sawyer: Curator of Photography, Whitney Museum (formerly of the Brooklyn Museum)

Introduction to Consuelo Kanaga

Opening Highlights:

• Alison Stewart introduces Consuelo Kanaga, one of the first female staff journalists at a major U.S. newspaper, whose contributions have been historically underrecognized. She emphasizes Kanaga's role in advocating for African American rights through her photography during pivotal cultural movements such as the Harlem Renaissance and the Civil Rights Movement.

  "Born in 1894, Consuelo Kanaga was one of the first female staff journalists to work at a major U.S. newspaper. The Brooklyn Museum aims to change the narrative around her legacy through a new exhibition." ([00:38])

The Consuelo Catch the Spirit Exhibition

Exhibition Overview:

• Titled "Consuelo Catch the Spirit," the exhibition showcases Kanaga's extensive photography collection, which includes 500 vintage prints, 2,500 negatives, and other materials. The exhibition runs until August 3rd and highlights Kanaga's powerful images that capture the essence and humanity of her subjects.

Quotes Highlighting Exhibition Goals:

• Kanaga's Philosophy:

  "When you make a photograph, it is very much a picture of your own self. The important thing is not to catch the eye, but the spirit." ([06:06])

Exploring Consuelo Kanaga's Background

Early Life and Career:

• Drew Sawyer provides insights into Kanaga's origins, noting her Swiss heritage and upbringing in Northern California after moving from Astoria, Oregon during childhood. Kanaga began her career at the San Francisco Chronicle at the young age of 21.

  "Consuelo was born in Astoria, Oregon, and raised in Northern California. She began her career with the San Francisco Chronicle when she was just 21." ([04:31])

Name Clarification:

• The correct spelling and pronunciation of Kanaga's name are clarified to ensure accurate recognition.

  "Kanaga was originally named Consuelo Kangana. She changed her name to Consuelo, a more masculine version, during her career." ([02:10])

Challenges in Recognition

Reasons Behind Overlooked Legacy:

• Pauline Vermar discusses why Kanaga hasn't achieved the same fame as contemporaries like Dorothea Lange or Berenice Abbott. She attributes this to Kanaga's tendency to support peers over self-promotion, which limited her visibility despite her impactful work.

  "Kanaga was excellent at supporting her peers but wasn't as adept at self-promotion, which may explain why she's less known today compared to her friends like Dorothea Lange." ([03:06])

Notable Works and Influence

Early Assignments and Lost Works:

• Drew Sawyer details Kanaga's early assignments covering single mothers in New York during the 1920s, drawing parallels to Dorothea Lange's later iconic work. He notes that much of her early work is lost due to her frequent relocations and personal relationships that took precedence over her career.

  "Many of Kanaga's early works are lost, but her powerful images of single mothers in the 1920s predate and influence Dorothea Lange's famous migrant mother photograph by over a decade." ([04:47])

Capturing the Spirit Through Photography

Techniques and Emotional Depth:

• The discussion centers on Kanaga's ability to "catch the spirit" in her photographs, emphasizing her collaborative nature and deep engagement with her subjects. Pauline Vermar highlights the intimacy and presence evident in Kanaga's work, which transcends mere visual appeal to convey profound emotional connections.

  "Kanaga was incredibly present and engaged with her subjects, which allowed her to capture their true spirit in her photographs." ([06:40])

Innovative Practices:

• Pauline Vermar also praises Kanaga's experimental approach in the darkroom, where she meticulously crafted her prints by adjusting tonalities and cropping to enhance the emotional impact of each image.

  "Kanaga took great pleasure in experimenting with her photographs in the darkroom, enhancing tones and cropping to better convey the spirit of her subjects." ([09:35])

Social Activism Through Photography

Media Activism:

• Pauline Vermar and Drew Sawyer elaborate on Kanaga's role as a media activist. Her photography wasn't just about capturing images but also about raising awareness for social issues such as poverty, inequality, and racial justice. Her work was used in magazines to support social movements, akin to contemporaries like Robert Capa and Gerda Taro.

  "Kanaga believed that photography could change the world. Her portraits of workers and participants in protests were central to the social movements of her time." ([13:30])

Legacy and Collection at the Brooklyn Museum

Acquisition of Kanaga's Work:

• Drew Sawyer explains how the Brooklyn Museum came to house a significant portion of Kanaga's work. After Kanaga's passing in the 1970s, her widower donated her extensive collection to the museum, recognizing the growing appreciation for women photographers during that period.

  "After Kanaga's passing, her widower donated her negatives and vintage prints to the Brooklyn Museum, ensuring her work was preserved and eventually showcased." ([15:04])

Personal Discovery of Kanaga's Work:

• Pauline Vermar shares her personal journey in discovering Kanaga's work, initially mistaking her name for Japanese heritage and uncovering a professional connection with Japanese photographer Eiko Yamazawa. This serendipitous discovery deepened her appreciation and led to curating the current exhibition.

  "I discovered Kanaga while researching Japanese women photographers and found a fascinating connection between her and Eiko Yamazawa, enriching my understanding of her work." ([15:57])

Conclusion

Final Thoughts and Exhibition Details:

• Alison Stewart wraps up the discussion by reiterating the significance of the "Consuelo Catch the Spirit" exhibition, encouraging listeners to view Consuelo Kanaga's remarkable body of work at the Brooklyn Museum before the exhibition concludes on August 3rd.

  "The exhibition is a perfect and timely showcase of Kanaga's impactful photography, offering a fresh perspective on her contributions to the field and social activism." ([17:06])

Additional Notes:

• Pauline Vermar adds an interesting tidbit about many great photographers, including those from Kanaga's era, being dyslexic students, highlighting the diverse backgrounds that contribute to the art of photography.

  "Many great photographers were dyslexic students, which is an interesting facet of their creative process." ([17:23])

Exhibition Details:

• Name: Consuelo Catch the Spirit
• Location: Brooklyn Museum
• Duration: Now through August 3rd
• Highlights: Over 500 vintage prints, 2,500 negatives, collaborative portraits with Eiko Yamazawa, and a deep dive into Kanaga's role as a media activist and pioneering female photojournalist.

Connect with Kanaga's Work:

• A selection of Kanaga's photographs is available on the Brooklyn Museum's Instagram Stories @lofitnyc, allowing a broader audience to engage with her legacy digitally.

This summary captures the essence of the "Groundbreaking Photojournalist At The Brooklyn Museum" episode of All Of It, providing listeners and non-listeners alike with a comprehensive overview of Consuelo Kanaga's life, work, and enduring impact on photography and social activism.