Ruth Orkin: A Photo Spirit
Classic portraits, New York scenes and more from the brilliant and indefatigable American photographer. Co-edited by Mary Engel. Released September, 2021.
A Wall Street Journal 2021 holiday gift guide pick
Published on the occasion of what would have been the photographer’s 100th birthday, this illustrated volume celebrates Orkin’s life and career with an equally extensive and fascinating overview of this exceptional artist’s oeuvre.
Mary Engel’s Introduction for Ruth Orkin: A Photo Spirit – revised 5/21/21
When I was a little girl, my mother Ruth was larger than life. She told me to call her Ruth at a young age, so she could hear me in a crowd. She had a great personality, with lots of charisma, and people always said she had chutzpah. She was warm, but she could be tough and strong too. In my eyes, she had it all. My memory is that we had a wonderful and loving relationship for most of my childhood, until things got complicated when I was 12, and she told me she was ill. Once she revealed her cancer diagnosis, our relationship shifted a bit, as I became a part-time caretaker at a young age. She had multiple surgeries, but also much success during this time, including exhibitions and several books. My teenage years meant living with her serious illness on a day-to-day basis, which wasn’t easy.