Links to resources about Frederick Sommer

RESOURCES & COLLECTIONS

Here is a brief list of collections and resources for those interested the work of Frederick Sommer:

The Frederick & Frances Sommer Foundation, P.O. Box 262, Prescott, AZ 86302, phone, 928-771-8707. Set up by Sommer, the FFSF has over a thousand photographs, collages, glue color, musical scores, pencil drawings, water colors, monoprints, and paintings, as well has his entire library (kept in shelf order at his request), darkroom and camera equipment, and objects from his house. This is the ideal research resource for anyone interested in Sommer's art, aesthetics, and sources. The FFSF is publishing the first significant monograph of Fred's work. It promises to be a spectacular book. Contact the FFSF for information: FFSF

The Center for Creative Photography, www.creativephotography.org. The Center has a large collection of Fred's photographs and a small number of collages. It has almost all of his negatives and papers. The Center published an excellent book of Fred's photographs and writings: Sommer Images/Sommer Words. By appointment you may view pieces from their archives, which include the works for many photographers in addition to Fred, including Adams, Bruguiere, Callahan, Dahl-Wolfe, Gilpin, Modotti, Siskind, Stand, Uelsmann, Weston, Winogrand, and many more. The Center has published a remarkable overview of their collection: Original Sources, Art and Archives at the Center for Creative Photography, edited by Amy Rule and Nancy Solomon. The best thing about the Center is that everyone cares about images and their enthusiasm is contagious.

Nazraeli Press has four publications of Fred's work: All Children are Ambassadors, The Box, Son of the Box, The Music of Frederick Sommer. www.nazraeli.com.

Cut-paper, Frederick Sommer Makes a Cut-paper, text by Jonathan Clark and Frederick Sommer. Photographs by Jonathan Clark and Frederick Sommer. Available from Photo-Eye Books and Prints, www.photoeye.com:

Essentially two books in one, Cut-Paper is an exquisite accordion-fold book. Read in one direction, it contains 10 of Sommer's cut-paper photographs and excerpts from his writings. Read the opposite direction, there are 12 photographs of Sommer in his Arizona home, producing these extraordinary works. Matchless printing by Stinehour Press--a must for the collector. Mountain View, 2000. Unpaged, 6x6".

This is a beautiful book. For anyone who knew Fred it is a wonderful memento, for anyone who never met him, it is perfect introduction. Jonathan has captured a special moment.

J. Paul Getty Museum, 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90949, The Getty. The Getty has a large collection of Fred's photographs. Its collection of photographs quite extensive and comprehensive.

Additional links of related to Frederick Sommer:

JH Cambell Online various images

Profotos.com "Max Ernst," by Frederick Sommer

What you need to know about Photography, article

The Getty, article

The Getty, "Virgin and Child, St. Anne and Infant St. John,” by Frederick Sommer

Afterimage “Coyotes,” by Frederick Sommer

George Eastman House, “Eight Young Roosters,” by Frederick Sommer

George Eastman House, “Moon Culmination” by Frederick Sommer, George Eastman House

Museum of New Mexico, "Pine Cone, 1947," Frederick Sommer

Norton Simon "Paracelsus,” by Frederick Sommer

Norton Simon Untitled (out of focus nude), by Frederick Sommer

Masters-of-Photography about a dozen photographs by Frederick Sommer (site has pop-ups)

Azstarnet.com “Livia, 1948,” by Frederick Sommer

Sightphoto essay

The Cleveland Museum “The Eatable Thief,” by Frederick Sommer

New York Times Obituary by Margarette Loke