“Reflection of a Man”
Posted by Cindy on October 17th, 2007
In case you haven’t guessed it by now, Allison V. Smith is like a God to me…or is it Goddess? No matter, the woman gots more talent in her clickin’ finger than…well…than a helluvalotta others do in their big fat bodies.
AVS is good people too. She loves her family and frequently posts gorgeous photos of her kin and their good times together on her photography site, as well as her blog. One interesting member of Allison’s family happens to be her grandfather, Stanley Marcus. Yes. THAT Stanley Marcus. Being that I’m a Dallas gal born’n'bred, I feel a certain adoration and kinship, if you will, towards those who truly ship-shaped Dallas back in the day, and still remain legends and icons. Certainly Mr. Marcus fits all of the above. But did you also know this great man was a talented photographer hisownself? Runs in the family me thinks…
Stanley Marcus was known the world over as an innovative marketer and retailer with a refined sensibility of taste and style whose leadership transformed his family’s Dallas clothing store to a globally recognized arbiter of fashion. However, his refined sensibility was also expressed in a very private passion for photography, shared only with family and close friends.
Marcus’s daughter Jerrie Marcus Smith and his granddaughter Allison V. Smith celebrate this passion with Reflection of a Man, a representative selection of the thousands of photographs Marcus shot on business trips to Europe, on vacations in Mexico, and for family celebrations. These photographs underscore what we already know about the man in terms of an eye for elegance, a preoccupation with merchandising, and an enthusiasm for the enjoyment of life, but they also reveal a talent for capturing the purity of a moment and memorializing instances of beauty.
Prior to his death in 2002, The Chairman Emeritus of Neiman Marcus deposited over 6,000 slides on the doorstep of his grand daughter’s house in Dallas, Texas. “My father knew Allison, a photojournalist would know what to do with them.” Said Jerrie Marcus Smith. “I always knew that my father was a photographer. When he built our family home in Dallas in 1936 he included a small darkroom adjacent to his. It was a fascinating little room, dark with funny smells and odd shaped pots and pans on the shelf and a clothesline high in the air. On the door he had hung a life-size paper machet mexican skull with a moveable jaw—–just ugly and frightening enough to keep small children far away,” she added.
The book contains over 120 color and black and white photographs spanning three decades. Photography and book publishing were Marcus’ passions both won him numerous accolades. In his 30′s he entered and won a contest sponsored by The New York Times. His sharp eye for beauty and detail and always his expectation for the best worked as well in photography as it did on the selling floor of Neiman Marcus.
The 192 page book was designed by DJ Stout of Pentagram Design and includes essays written by fashion designer Oscar de la Renta, Jack Lenor Larsen, the renowned fabric designer, Marcus’ daughter Jerrie Marcus Smith, and Dr. Roy Flukinger the Curator of Photography at the Ransom Center at the University of Texas, Austin. Reflection of a Man is published by The Carin Press will retail for $60.00.
You really must have a copy of this book, no ifs ands or buts. Best thing to do is take your lunch break on Thursday, October 18th and head over to Neiman’s at Northpark anytime between 1-5 PM to getcherown copy. Allison and Jerrie will both be there to sign your new very own copy.
Or, do what I plan to do and experience this exciting book-signing old-school. Friday, October 19th and hit the original Downtown Dallas Neiman Marcus for some lunch and another book-signing from 2-4 PM.
Check in on Allison and Jerrie today at 1:30 on Satellite Sisters Radio.
October 17th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
Stanley Marcus was a man of many gifts, literally. He used to come visit Bill Wisener at the old Bill’s Records store in North Dallas, and shortly before his death, he called Bill and asked him to come to his home for breakfast. When Bill arrived, Stanley gave him his entire collection of records. (One can only imagine how amazing this collection of music must be.) Stanley Marcus was always a hero to many people in the community, but to Bill Wisener, he was always a close friend and the ultimate role model in the business world.
October 19th, 2007 at 9:21 am
That’s a great story. Do you know how many grandchildren were envious of that record transaction!