O. Winston Link (1915 – 2001) was a commercial photographer and train buff who in the mid 1950s devoted five years of his life to recording the last days of steam on the Norfolk and Western railway line. Photographing at night (when the steam appeared white against the black sky) and enlisting both train personnel and locals as supporting cast, Link produced his own quasi-Rockwellian vision of a world that was soon to pass.
Gregory Crewdson is one of the pioneers of large scale contemporary color photography known for his elaborately staged and lighted tableaux of mysterious small town life. Long seen as one of a group of photographers (along with Jeff Wall and Cindy Sherman) whose work was influenced by Link, Crewdson has openly acknowledged his admiration for Link and even brought the photographer to Yale, where he now heads the prestigious MFA Photography program.
Danziger Gallery has exhibited Link’s work since 1990, during which time James Danziger and Gregory Crewdson had often discussed the idea of a two person show, but a recent acquisition of a large group of Link’s most important images served as the catalyst for finally making the show happen. Comprising 16 of Link’s 16x20 inch black and white photographs and three of Crewdson large scale (60 x 90 inch) color works selected by the artist for their relationship to Link – the show unites these two important American photographers in a joint show for the first time.