Annenberg Space for Photography Announces Iris Nights Lecture Series for Helmut Newton: White Women * Sleepless Nights * Big Nudes

LOS ANGELES, June 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Annenberg Space for Photography announces the lineup of speakers for their popular Iris Nights lecture series presented in conjunction with the exhibit Helmut Newton: White Women * Sleepless Nights * Big Nudes.

The series brings to life the most current exhibit, giving attendees unique access to the artists in an intimate setting.  Scheduled speakers include legendary art director and author Ruth Ansel; photographers Tony Duran, Neal Barr, Sheryl Nields, Robert Erdmann, Rasmus Mogensen, Ben Hassett and Amber Gray; and documentary director Steven Kochones.  All Iris Nights lectures are free to the public.

The lecture series will move to its new home – the Annenberg Space for Photography Skylight Studios.  Skylight Studios is a 3,000-square-foot multimedia studio and retail gallery located directly across the park from the Photography Space.  Skylight Studios provides an enhanced lecture viewing atmosphere and experience through state of the art A/V equipment, a concert-quality audio system and HD broadcast capabilities.  It will open on June 29 in conjunction with the Helmut Newton exhibit. 

In addition to hosting the Iris Nights lectures, Skylight Studios offers visitors an expanded retail gallery and the opportunity to watch original documentary films from past Photography Space exhibits.  It is available for event rentals. 

Helmut Newton: White Women * Sleepless Nights * Big Nudes, featuring the work of the revolutionary fashion photographer, opens free to the public at the Annenberg Space for Photography on Saturday, June 29, 2013 for a very limited run through September 8, 2013.
Images from Newton's first three books – White Women, Sleepless Nights and Big Nudes – will be on view.  In addition to more than 100 prints, the exhibit will present two films about Newton – an original documentary film commissioned by the Annenberg Foundation from Arclight Productions entitled Provocateur, and Helmut by June, a documentary film shot and directed by June Newton, Newton's wife of 56 years.

The exhibition was originally organized by Manfred Heiting for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.  The photographs in this exhibition contain nudity and sexual content, and may not be suitable for all visitors.

IRIS NIGHTS LECTURE SERIES SCHEDULE

All Iris Nights lectures will take place on Thursday evenings from 6:30pm-8pm at Skylight Studios.  Tickets are free of charge and available by online reservation on a first-come, first-served basis.

July 11 – Tony Duran is a celebrity and fashion photographer whose portfolio includes Natalie Portman, Beyonce, Brad Pitt, Penelope Cruz, Tom Cruise, Scarlett Johansson, Ben Affleck and Jamie Foxx.  He has shot for a plethora of magazines including GQ, Vanity Fair, Rolling Stone and Glamour.

July 18 – Neal Barr began as an U.S. Army Public Information Office photographer. He assisted fashion/beauty photographers Irving Penn and Ray Kellman, and worked with legendary fashion editor Wilhela Cushman.  His clients have included Harper's Bazaar, Revlon, Cover Girl, Estee Lauder, Bergdorf Goodman and Faberge.  Barr's work has been exhibited at the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of New York.

July 25 – Sheryl Nields has a diverse photography portfolio of work for film, music and television advertising, as well as imagery for clothing line William Rast.  She has shot covers for domestic and international magazines including GQ, Ebony, Outside, Interview, ESPN and many more.

August 1 – Robert Erdmann worked as an assistant to Helmut Newton and as a stylist before establishing himself as a photographer in 1984.  Erdmann's work has appeared in top international fashion magazines including Vogue, W, Elle and Marie Claire.  His celebrity subjects include Ann Hathaway, Angelina Jolie, Mila Kunis and Gwen Stefani.

August 8 – Ruth Ansel was Harper Bazaar's youngest co-art director before moving on to New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair and Vogue in a career spanning nearly five decades. She created film titles for Louis Malle's cult film, My Dinner with Andre, and designed significant portfolios of Richard Avedon's work for The New Yorker.

August 15 – Rasmus Mogensen had his first independent photo exhibition at age 17 and has been working professionally as a fashion and beauty photographer for the past 15 years.  His clients include Marie Claire, Harper's Bazaar, Wolford, Diesel, Kerastase and Swarovski.

August 21 (Wednesday) – Slideshow Night is a special presentation showcasing hundreds of additional images related to the exhibit theme.  Slideshow Night will take place at the Annenberg Space for Photography.

August 22 – Steven Kochones is a director, producer and principal of Arclight Productions, an award-winning film and video production company based in Hollywood.  Kochones' recent directing efforts include Provocateur; Water: Our Thirsty World, produced in association with National Geographic; and clients including Warner Bros., HBO, IMAX, DreamWorks and more.

August 29 – Ben Hassett is a fashion and beauty photographer known for creating the visceral, highly polished beauty images that are the hallmark of his work today.  His images have been in Vogue magazines worldwide, and his commercial clients include Bulgari, Lanvin, Burberry and Christian Dior Beaute.

September 5 – Amber Gray is a New York-based photographer whose work reflects her sense of humor and penchant for glam-rock.  Her clients range from celebrities such as Penelope Cruz, Selena Gomez, and John Turturro to Maybelline, Mont Blanc and McDonald's.

Schedule and participants are subject to change.

About the Annenberg Space for Photography
The Annenberg Space for Photography is a cultural destination dedicated to exhibiting photography.  The intimate environment features state-of-the-art, high-definition digital technology as well as traditional prints by some of the world's most renowned and emerging photographers.  It is the first solely photographic cultural destination in the Los Angeles area.

Annenberg Space for Photography
2000 Avenue of the Stars
Century City, CA 90067
Tel:  213.403.3000
www.annenbergspaceforphotography.org

Hours for Annenberg Space for Photography
and Annenberg Space for Photography Skylight Studios
Wednesday through Friday:  11am – 6pm
Saturday: 11am – 9pm
Sunday: 11am – 6pm
Closed Monday and Tuesday.
*The Photography Space and Skylight Studios will be open Independence Day, July 4 and Labor Day, September 2 from 11am – 6pm.

Admission is free. Parking with validation is $3.50 Wednesdays - Fridays and $1.00 on weekends.

SOURCE The Annenberg Foundation