Toe on Egg at Frazier

Louisville, KY, April 25, 2016 – Before photos were snapped on phones and editing was done with a click of the mouse, Louisville artist Julius Friedman was creating images the old fashioned way - with his hands, his imagination and lighting. For the very first time, over 200 of Friedman’s awe-inspiring collection will be on display at the Frazier History Museum from June 23 – October 9, 2016. Louisvillians will fondly recall Freidman’s famous series for the arts community among many other works.

The exhibit, Julius Friedman: A Celebration, is a celebration of life and will feature the iconic posters that have become a part of the international arts and culture community, including “Toe on Egg,” his famous Louisville Ballet poster of a dancer's shoe balanced on an egg, and his “Fresh Paint” poster, featuring three egg yolks in the primary colors. The multi-sensory exhibit, inspired by the movement and emotion of nature, will provide visitors a visual, audio and tactile experience that delves into the mind of Friedman.

Friedman’s work has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and in museums across North America, Asia and Europe. Although Friedman is one of America’s most prolific and versatile photographers and graphic artists of the modern era, he keeps his roots in Louisville and is thrilled to be presenting this exhibit where he works and plays.

The cutting edge photographer says Julius Friedman: A Celebration will be much more than art on a wall. The multi-media exhibit promises to uncover some of Friedman’s inspirations in creating the images that are now recognized around the world. A Celebration will also break new ground with a contemporary show featuring photographs of life and the natural world never seen before, from the perspective of one of the arts most discerning eyes. Visitors to A Celebration will also see Friedman challenge conventional backdrops like paper and canvas as he presents new photography on aluminum and cloth.

Not one to be pigeonholed by any of his previous creations, Friedman’s most recent project, The Book, is also the first of its kind for the artist. The Book showcases Friedman’s first deconstruction and collage project, inspired by a discarded bag of books given to him by Gail Gilbert, the art librarian at University of Louisville. After first declaring he was a book designer and not a collage artist, Friedman relented and created a limited edition of 20 books, all hand-sewn and hand bound, using a hand-set type, letterpress, and tipped-in photographs encased in a cherry wood box. Those 20 books sold out at once. After the project was complete, Friedman decided to make a coffee table version of The Book that people from all walks of life could afford, enjoy and experience. On Tuesday April 26, 2016, Friedman, along with Old Stone Press, will host a book release and poster signing at 21C Museum Hotel, 700 West Main Street in downtown Louisville from 5:00p.m–8:00p.m.