The North American premiere of “The Linda McCartney Retrospective” is coming to an end on Saturday, Aug. 5.
Linda by Paul. London, 1968© Paul McCartney / Photographer: Linda McCartney
The exhibition offers a glimpse into McCartney’s 30-year, barrier-breaking career, as well as her connection to Tucson. The Center for Creative Photography on the University of Arizona campus, is wrapping up the several months-long exhibit. The collection showcases the iconic photographer’s 30-year career made its North American debut in February.
McCartney’s photographs represent how she experienced life, from her time in Tucson to pictures of the music scene of the 1960s to images of her personal life in London. McCartney also had the honor in 1968 of becoming the first female photographer to have her work featured on the cover of Rolling Stone. The photo was of Eric Clapton.
The exhibition includes nearly 200 pieces, divided into three broad groupings. “Artists” will include the wide range of portraits McCartney took of cultural and musical icons, including Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and Aretha Franklin. These images often captured the vulnerability of future legends in their early days. “Family” will feature images of McCartney’s most intimate relationships, documenting her view of domestic life after moving to London with her family. “Photographic Exploration” will showcase McCartney’s many experiments with photographic processes, including never-before-exhibited screen prints and a wall of Polaroid prints.
Paul McCartney and renowned photographer, and Linda and Paul’s daughter, Mary, have curated the exhibit in partnership with the Center for Creative Photography. Reflecting on Linda’s work, Paul commented, “Linda carried a camera with her most of the time capturing images in an instinctive way which left her subjects feeling totally comfortable with the process. She loved to explore and found ways to make her art joyous and innovative at the same time.”
Linda McCartney took up photography as a hobby while attending the University of Arizona in the early 1960s, taking her earliest photos with Tucson’s Sonoran Desert as a backdrop. The family has never forgotten its connection to the community. In 1979, the McCartneys purchased a ranch on Tucson’s northeast side where Linda would eventually spend her final days.
“Linda’s work is at once iconic and familiar, giving her viewers both a sense of awe and connection to family, place and community,” said Staci Santa, interim director of the Center for Creative Photography. “Experiencing this exhibit will give people a feeling of connection to timeless history, loving relationships and home.”
“The Linda McCartney Retrospective” is free and open to the public. Click here for more information.
