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SHERMAN, TEXAS—The Austin College Department of Art and Art History will host the exhibit “Shine: Vintage Photographs and Shoe Shine Boxes” March 26 – April 20 in the Forster Art Studio Complex’s Dennis Gallery on campus. The show is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at no charge. For more information, call 903-813-2048.
The exhibit, courtesy of Photographs Do Not Bend Gallery in Dallas, is curated by Burt Finger, PDNB director. The unique show combines objects and photographs from the 1930s through 1970s, depicting shoe shine entrepreneurs practicing what usually is their first job.
A special addition in the exhibition is the vintage shoe shine boxes, collected by the curator as works of functional sculpture over the past eight years. The collection began with a gift from of friend of a shoe shine box given as a special piece of folk art. The collection of photographs with the same subject became an integral part of the compilation as well.
Many stories of successful entrepreneurs began at a young age with the “start-up” shoe shine business, Finger said.” This narrative of a young man’s first plunge into commerce offers a nostalgic look into youthful dreams of making one’s own money. Most of these photographs were taken in the Great Depression, when shine boys worked hard to help support their families.”
Many of the photographs included were taken in New York City where young boys and men lined the streets looking for their next customer. Ruth Orkin’s suite of five photographs (called “charming” by Finger) illustrates an aggressive young salesman almost grabbing his clients from a busy street in Manhattan. “Everyone had shoes that needed to be shined,” Finger said. “This salesman’s plan was to let them know he offered the best shine.”
John Albok’s photograph from Harlem in 1934 shows seven shoe shine stands in a row, next to a Hot Peanuts vendor. This image, taken from a high vantage point, includes the street scene with a sign, “8th Ave. Suby Sta 3 Blks W.” The photograph is full of information indicative of the struggle to survive in New York City, Finger explained.
The shoe boxes from this collection are from different parts of the world. Some have their original tools, brushes, polish, etc. Each requires the same features. The box has to be small enough to carry, but large enough to top with a man-sized shoe rest. Each also needs storage enough to carry all the tools, either in drawers or an empty space below the shoe rest.
Photographers included in the exhibition are John Albok, Mario Algaze, Morris Engel, Walker Evans, Albert Freeman, Lewis Wickes Hine, Russell Lee, Ruth Orkin, Edwin Rosskam, V.G. Schreck, Aaron Siskind, Roger Smith, and John Tarbell.
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives.
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