Blog

Sharon Wild and the Oakland Museum

Larry Sultan Sharon Wild 2001.

Today, I was reading a NYTimes article on the Brooklyn Museum’s failure to draw in the crowds despite their “populist” approach. It made me think about how annoying I found the displays in the art portion of the Oakland Museum of California. At the mention of the new glass front of the Brooklyn Museum (added years ago), I realized there was nothing structural at the Oakland Museum with which I have an objection—the exploratorium aspects could be easily erased. It is mostly just paint and vinyl letters on the walls and some free standing displays. So, hopefully there will be a return to white or at least white-ish walls and less “lounges.”

Sharon (not her real name) was the cover image of Larry Sultan’s book The Valley (2004). The photo is currently on view at the Oakland Museum of California. At the time Sultan was taking photos for the project, I was taking picture of various models for a project I have yet to do.

A photo of Sharon I took circa 2000/1.