Mule Auction Paparazzi
Recently I attended a gallery opening that I’ve been excited to see for quite some time. The Griffin Museum of Photography – Digital Silver Imaging in Belmont, Massachusetts featured the work of my former Professor and current photography mentor, Charles Meyer. Charles’ work was a collection of photographs of the Dickson Mule Auction in Dickson, Tennessee that he has taken over the past six years.
Mule Stall #210
Mules are the offspring of a female horse and a male donkey, and are bred for a number of uses such as trail mounts, domesticated work animals, carriage pullers and fieldwork animals. The Dickson Mule Auction is the largest and oldest mule auction in the country, and attracts people of all kinds from around the globe. While there are always new faces at the auction, many of the attendees, sellers, buyers and spectators are repeat visitors. Charles describes the atmosphere as that of a reunion, brought together by beautiful animals. The photographs, close ups of the mules, a group of old friends talking and laughing between their stalls, and a mule proudly displaying his auction number create the feeling of a close-knit circle that has a passion, or at least a need, for the mules.
Two Men Talking
Here is how Charlie describes his interest in this unique event, “This is my sixth year photographing the Dickson Auction. I am drawn to this small rural gathering – the culture, the social dynamics, and the mules themselves constitute a unique setting that I have not encountered elsewhere. Each time I return the work evolves and I am able to explore in greater depth both the visual possibilities and the human element.”
From my experience with Professor Meyer his love for analog, 35mm, black and white photography expands beyond the process and into the content of his photographs. The gelatin silver prints displayed at the Griffin Museum in Belmont are gorgeous and the mules seem to glow, creating the illusion that if you were to touch the photography you could feel their velvet brown fur.
Tommy admiring 'Mule #007'
Charles’ work has been exhibited at many musems and galleries including the ICA Boston, Addison Gallery of American Art, and the UNESCO Gallery in Paris, France. He curates exhibitions for the McMullen Museum of Art at Boston College as well as teaching the art of photography at Boston College. Along with photography he has worked in film on the PBS Television specials Civil War and Baseball, by Ken Burns. He also served as aan associate Producer and Photographer for a four-part film series on conflict resolution in war torn areas of the world.
