Laurence Miller Gallery Exhibition                           Oct. 16 - Nov. 26, 2003

 Walter Rutter The Girls of Casa Susanna

Laurence Miller Gallery is pleased to present the first New York exhibition of Walter Rutter: The Girls of Casa Susanna. Casa Susanna was a house near Hunter, New York where men would congregate for the weekend while dressing up in women's clothing. The thirteen black and white photographs on view were made in 1966 during a single afternoon at Casa Susanna.

Upon the invitation of a fellow artist, Rutter took a day off from his successful commercial work photographing for Bride, Cosmopolitan, Town and Country, and Harper's Bazaar, to drive up to Hunter. Shooting over one hundred frames while at Casa Susanna, Rutter brought his skill and finesse from his fashion work to capturing the charm, innocence and individuality of his subjects. Evident from the contact sheet that will be exhibited, Rutter was able to comfortably mingle with his cross-dressing subjects, often photographing them in several different poses, much like a traditional fashion shoot.

Among the most charming images are a group shot of seven men in dresses, posing behind the dining room table with potted plant and a camera as props, and a sepia toned view of two men in dresses, seated on the front porch in period chairs, separated by a barrel-based table with bottles of nail polish and a pocketbook.

Walter Rutter was born in New York in 1934. While working for McCann Erickson, he met Alexey Brodovitch, with whom he subsequently studied. He has worked as a professional photographer for many publications, and for the aerospace industry. He currently resides in Columbia County, New York.

 A selection of 10 images from the exhibition

 (click image for detail view)

 

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Go to exhibition  Mark Mann: Are We There Yet?

 

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