best and took many photos of her later in her life. He spoke from his home in Manhattan with clear admiration about his friend. The two met in 1972 while he was writing The Eddie Condon Scrapbook of Jazz( 1973). He was given one of Abbott’ s books for his birthday that year and wanted to buy several of her photographs. As luck would have it, the designer for the Eddie Condon book was Abbott’ s friend and photography student. She made the introduction, and O’ Neal met Abbott at the Holiday Inn on 57th Street in Manhattan, where he purchased two prints for $ 300. She invited him to her home in Maine“ to talk about pictures.” O’ Neal went to Maine not only to talk about pictures, but also to buy more of her work. As Abbott set about getting the photographs ready— flattening and putting them on a board— he asked to photograph her. She agreed, but O’ Neal’ s Polaroid SX-70 instant camera produced a bad batch of photos. The film was to blame. Abbott told him his camera was“ a goddamn toy,” adding,“ If you ever get a real camera, come back and I’ ll show you how to use it.” Which he did, again and again. He also published nine books of her work. O’ Neal says Abbott was good at getting the photo— bribing superintendents to allow her into their buildings, climbing on rooftops, even working her way into McSorley’ s Ale House at 15 East 7th Street in the late 1930s, way before women were allowed in. O’ Neal’ s forthcoming You’ ve Got to Do a Damn Sight Better Than That, Buster, to be released on June 24 by Steidl Publishing, is a memoir based on his friendship and collaboration with Abbott, who was a bridesmaid at his wedding. The title is a direct quote from Abbott about his early work.
A stroke of serendipity finds Berenice Abbott’ s Modern Lens at The Manton Research Center at the same time that Isamu Noguchi: Landscapes of Time is on exhibit at the Clark’ s Michael Conforti Pavilion, July 19 to October 13. Not only were Abbott and Noguchi friends, but each made a portrait of the other, connecting for a modernist moment in the early 20th century. n
NEW EXHIBITION OPENING
I Spy!
Walter Wick’ s Hidden Wonders
June 7- October 26
The magical world of photographic illustration
NRM. org | Stockbridge, MA 413.298.4100 | Kids & Teens FREE
This exhibition is organized by the New Britain Museum of American Art, New Britain, Connecticut in partnership with the artist, Walter Wick. I Spy! Walter Wick’ s Hidden Wonders is made possible by The Saunders Foundation and the Cheryl Chase and Stuart Bear Family Foundation.
Walter Wick, Treehouse, detail from Hey, Seymour!, 2015. Pigmented inkjet photograph. New Britain Museum of American Art. © 2015 Walter Wick
“ t
-
D’ g
C ll
Berenice Abbott’ s Modern Lens, The Manton Research Center at the Clark, July 12 to October 5. Highlights Talk: Berenice Abbott Bonus Selection, The Manton Study Center for Works on Paper at the Clark, August 13, at 1 p. m. clarkart. edu
May / June 2025 BERKSHIRE MAGAZINE // 81