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Eye On Texas: Michael O’Brien Collects the Faces of Texas

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Texas is a mythic land—some say a “country unto itself”—and its citizens include myriad distinctive characters, from celebrities to small-town personalities. The Face of Texas, published this year by the University of Texas Press, celebrates this spirit and individuality with a human mosaic of the state. Subjects include Waxahachie High School’s dancing Cherokee Charmers; retired Spur, Texas, schoolteacher Ila Johnson, who renewed her Texas driver’s license at 97; George Dawson, who learned to read and write at 98 and wrote his first book at 102; Willie Nelson; Ran Horn, the “Van Gogh of Van Horn”; and Lonesome Dove author Larry McMurtry in his Archer City “book ranch.” The images in the book, accompanied by stories written by Elizabeth O’Brien, run the gamut from “W,” the former U.S. president, to well-known Austin homeless man Stephen Blair.

See more of photographer Michael O’Brien’s work at obrienphotography.com.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: Seeking Texas-based documentary photography that captures the strangest state. Please send inquiries to [email protected].

  • The Wittliff Collections

    JANUARY 12 – MAY 15, 2014
    THE FACE OF TEXAS
    Portraits by MICHAEL O’BRIEN
    Stories by ELIZABETH O’BRIEN

    THE WITTLIFF COLLECTIONS
    Alkek Library, Texas State University, San Marcos
    http://www.thewittliffcollections.txstate.edu

    The Wittliff is proud to present our first solo exhibition of images by one of
    America’s premier portrait photographers. In this series, based on his
    latest book from the University of Texas Press, MICHAEL O’BRIEN
    celebrates the individuality and independent spirit of Texans—from
    ordinary folk to the rich and famous, including those born here and
    those who eventually made Texas home. For his new edition of The
    Face of Texas, O’Brien has added portraits and updated photographs
    of people from the first edition. Writer and former Life reporter
    ELIZABETH O’BRIEN offers insightful verbal vignettes for the
    new portraits and also brings us up-to-date with the lives of the rest
    of the subjects. Each of the 48 portraits in this exhibition are
    accompanied by her narrative about the person. This winning combination
    of images and stories about a fascinating, eclectic mix of Texans is a
    fitting homage to our unique state. Watch the Events page for a free public program with Michael and Elizabeth O’Brien.