Fred W. McDarrah
Encyclopedia
Frederick William "Fred" McDarrah (November 5, 1926 – November 6, 2007) was an American
staff photographer for the Village Voice. He became famous for documenting the cultural phenomenon known as the Beat Generation
from its inception in the 1950s. In his book The Artist's World in Pictures, co-authored with Thomas B. Hess, McDarrah documented the New York art world, the New York School
and the world of Abstract expressionism
in New York City
during the late 1950s.
of Catholic and Protestant descent, he said his father "did nothing, never worked, a manic depressive who used to sit by the window and just stare out. We used to live on Home Relief. My brother David and I went begging for food."
He bought his first camera at the 1939 World's Fair for 39 cents, but did not start taking photographs as a vocation until he was a paratrooper in occupied Japan following World War II
.
He was one of the first to photograph Bob Dylan
.
He photographed people at the time of the Stonewall riots
; those pictures were among those gathered in the book Gay Pride (1994), one of over a dozen books including his photographs.
and Patrick.
, a few hours after his 81st birthday.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
staff photographer for the Village Voice. He became famous for documenting the cultural phenomenon known as the Beat Generation
Beat generation
The Beat Generation refers to a group of American post-WWII writers who came to prominence in the 1950s, as well as the cultural phenomena that they both documented and inspired...
from its inception in the 1950s. In his book The Artist's World in Pictures, co-authored with Thomas B. Hess, McDarrah documented the New York art world, the New York School
New York School
The New York School was an informal group of American poets, painters, dancers, and musicians active in the 1950s, 1960s in New York City...
and the world of Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism
Abstract expressionism was an American post–World War II art movement. It was the first specifically American movement to achieve worldwide influence and put New York City at the center of the western art world, a role formerly filled by Paris...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
during the late 1950s.
Biography
Born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
of Catholic and Protestant descent, he said his father "did nothing, never worked, a manic depressive who used to sit by the window and just stare out. We used to live on Home Relief. My brother David and I went begging for food."
He bought his first camera at the 1939 World's Fair for 39 cents, but did not start taking photographs as a vocation until he was a paratrooper in occupied Japan following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He was one of the first to photograph Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan
Bob Dylan is an American singer-songwriter, musician, poet, film director and painter. He has been a major and profoundly influential figure in popular music and culture for five decades. Much of his most celebrated work dates from the 1960s when he was an informal chronicler and a seemingly...
.
He photographed people at the time of the Stonewall riots
Stonewall riots
The Stonewall riots were a series of spontaneous, violent demonstrations against a police raid that took place in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn, in the Greenwich Village neighborhood of New York City...
; those pictures were among those gathered in the book Gay Pride (1994), one of over a dozen books including his photographs.
Family
In 1960 he married Gloria Schoffel; they had two sons, TimothyTimothy McDarrah
Timothy S. McDarrah is a former magazine editor and gossip columnist from New York who was convicted and imprisoned after a U.S. federal sting operation for soliciting sex with a minor in September 2005.-Career:...
and Patrick.
Death
He died in his sleep at his home in Greenwich VillageGreenwich Village
Greenwich Village, , , , .in New York often simply called "the Village", is a largely residential neighborhood on the west side of Lower Manhattan in New York City. A large majority of the district is home to upper middle class families...
, a few hours after his 81st birthday.
External links
- Fred W. McDarrah at artnetArtnetartnet is an online service provider for the international art market with headquarters in New York, Berlin and Paris. Additionally, artnet has regional offices in China, the UK and Russia.- Business model :...
.com