Arthur Tress: San Francisco 1964 is a monograph by James A. Ganz, which presents for the first time a collection of newly discovered pictures Tress took in 1964 as a young man. The photographs reveal a theme familiar to Tress’s many fans: the intersection of the absurd and the mundane. Formally posed portraits on the streets of San Francisco as well as candid views of shop windows, signs and other idiosyncrasies of the local landscape capture the vibrant scene in the Bay Area at the dawn of a chaotic era. An introductory essay discusses the historical context of the works while an interview with Tress illuminates the making and rediscovery of these brilliant images. The 112-page hardback is going on sale on 12th March for £22.50.

Prestel Press Release

Arthur Tress
San Francisco 1964

James A. Ganz

Publication date: 12th March 2012

Price: £22.50 hardback

Sixty-four newly discovered images by the distinguished photographer Arthur Tress capture a uniquely American time and place.

Best known for dreamlike staged imagery of people, places and things, Tress is an accomplished photographer whose career spans more than fifty years. This monograph presents for the first time a collection of pictures the photographer took in 1964 as a young man newly arrived in San Francisco. That summer the city was ground zero for a historic culture clash as the site of both the 28th Republican National Convention and the launch of the Beatles’ first North American tour. The resulting photographs reveal a theme familiar to Tress’s many fans: the intersection of the absurd and the mundane. Formally posed portraits on the streets of San Francisco as well as candid views of shop windows, signs and other idiosyncrasies of the local landscape capture the vibrant scene in the Bay Area at the dawn of a chaotic era. An introductory essay discusses the historical context of the works while an interview with Tress illuminates the making and rediscovery of these brilliant images.

The Author
JAMES A. GANZ is Curator of the Achenbach Foundation for Graphic Arts of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. His publications include Impressionist Paris: City of Light (DelMonico Books·Prestel) and Artistic San Francisco.

Exhibition Itinerary
de Young Museum, San Francisco, February–June 2012

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