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Geoffrey Lea Winningham (born March 4, 1943) is an American photographer, journalist, and filmmaker best known for his photographs and documentary films focusing on Texas and Mexican culture. Geoff's work was first recognized in the early 1970s when he published the book Friday Night in the Coliseum,[1] featuring his photographs of professional wrestling and recorded conversations with wrestlers and fans.  The book was followed in 1972 by a 16mm, black and white documentary film of the same title. 

Over the course of his career he has received two Guggenheim Fellowships,[2] five grants from the National Endowment for the Arts,[3] and numerous commissions. He has lived in Houston, Texas, and taught photography in the Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts at Rice University since 1969.[3] In addition, he directs the Pozos Art Project, Inc., a non-profit enterprise offering art and photography opportunities to children in Texas and in Mexico.

Early life and education[edit]

Geoff Winningham was born on March 4, 1943, in Jackson, Tennessee. At the age of 13, he became fascinated with cameras, immersed himself in photography, found a part-time job as a studio and darkroom assistant, built a darkroom in his family home, and made his first photo-book, a handmade volume of portraits of his friends. At the age of 14, he left home to continue his secondary education as a boarding student at Battle Ground Academy in Franklin, Tennessee.

In 1961 he moved to Houston, Texas, to study at Rice University, majoring in English literature.  While studying at Rice he renewed his interest in photography, encouraged by several English professors, most notably Professor Gerald O'Grady, his first and most important mentor. After earning his bachelor's degree from Rice, he entered the Master's program at the IIT Institute of Design in Chicago, Illinois, where he studied with Aaron Siskind, Arthur Siegel, and Wynn Bullock, completing his MS degree in 1968.

Books[edit]

  • In the Eyes of Our Children: Houston, An American City, Houston: Pozos Art Project, 2017.[4][5]
  • Of the Soil: Photographs of Vernacular Architecture and Stories of Changing Times in Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR: University of Arkansas Press, 2014.[6]
  • Going Back to Galveston: Nature, Funk and Fantasy in a Favorite Place, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, Text by J. Killingsworth, 94 photos. 2011.[7]
  • Traveling the Shore of the Spanish Sea: The Gulf Coast of Texas and Mexico, College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press, 2010.[8]
  • The Pozos Art Project: Art from the 2009 Workshops, Houston, TX: Pozos Art Project, 2009.[9]
  • Mi Pueblo: The Pozos Children's Project, Houston, TX: The Jung Center of Houston, 2008.[10]
  • Along Forgotten River, Austin, TX: Texas State Historical Association, 2003.[11]
  • In the Eye of the Sun:  Mexican Fiestas, with essays by J. M. G. LeClezio and introduction by Richard Rodriguez, New York, NY: W. W. Norton & Co., 1997.[12]
  • Rice University: A 75th Anniversary Portrait, Houston, TX: Rice University Press, 1987.[13]
  • A Place of Dreams: Houston, an American City, Houston, TX: Rice University Press, 1986.[14]
  • Rites of Fall: High School Football in Texas, Austin, TX: University of Texas Press,1979.[15]
  • Geoff Winningham: Photographs, Houston, TX: Museum of Fine Arts, 1974.[16]
  • Going Texan: The Days of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, New York, NY: Horizon Press, 1972.[17]
  • Friday Night in the Coliseum, Houston, TX: Allison Press, 1971.[1]

Films[edit]

Magazine work[edit]

  • "The Eye of the Bull," Texas Monthly, October 1991.[19]
  • "A Fool for Mules," Texas Monthly, May 1991.[20]
  • "An Arabian for the Ages," Connoisseur, March 1989.
  • "My Kind of Town," Texas Monthly, September 1988.[21]
  • "Football: Game of Life," Texas Monthly, October 1983.[22]
  • "281," Texas Monthly, July 1982.[23]
  • "Foat Wuth, The Eternal City," Texas Monthly, June 1982.[24]
  • "Houston, Texas: City of Destiny," Texas Monthly, October 1981.[25]
  • "Rites of Fall," American Photographer, December 1979.
  • "Friday Night Heroes," Texas Monthly, October 1976.
  • "Beach Party," Texas Monthly, August 1976.[26]
  • "Our Town," Texas Monthly, June 1976.[27]
  • "An Apology for the Life of Joe H. Klein," Esquire, December 1973.
  • "Mes Nuits Chaudes Dans Le Temple du Catch," Photo (Paris), December 1972.

Exhibitions[edit]

Collections[edit]

Awards and commissions[edit]

  • Ned Shank Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication, Preserve Arkansas, 2015.[49]
  • John Brinkerhoff Jackson Book Prize – Special Recognition for the best book on the American landscape for Traveling the Shore of the Spanish Sea, Foundation for Landscape Studies, 2011.[50]
  • Ron Tyler Award for the Best Illustrated Book on Texas History and Culture for Traveling the Shore of the Spanish Sea, Texas State Historical Association, 2010.[51]
  • Urban Investment and Development Company, commission to photograph "Central Houston," 1983–86.
  • National Endowment for the Arts, Media Arts Grant for a documentary film on Texas high school football, 1983.
  • First Federal of Arkansas, commission to photograph "The Vernacular Architecture of Arkansas," 1980–81.
  • John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, for "Photographs of Texas High School Football," 1978.[2]
  • National Endowment for the Arts, Photography Fellowship for "A Photographic Study of Football in Texas," 1977.
  • Seagrams Foundation, commission to photograph "County Courthouses of the Southern United States," 1975–76.
  • Kimbell Art Museum, commission to photograph the Kimbell Museum for the book Light is the Theme, 1975.
  • National Endowment for the Arts, Photography Fellowship for "Photographs of Rural Festivals in Texas," 1975.
  • National Endowment for the Arts, Public Media Grant for a film on the Houston Astrodome, 1974.
  • John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, for "Photographs of Texas," 1972.[2]
  • Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Grant for the film Friday Night in the Coliseum, 1971.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Winningham, Geoff (1971). Friday Night in the Coliseum. Houston, TX: Allison Press.
  2. ^ a b c "John Simon Guggenheim Foundation | Geoffrey Winningham". Guggenheim Foundation. February 10, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d "Geoffrey Winningham | VADA". Rice University Department of Visual and Dramatic Arts. February 10, 2018.
  4. ^ Geoff., Winningham (September 2017). In the eyes of our children : Houston, an American city. Houston, Texas. ISBN 978-1532317316. OCLC 989873404.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  5. ^ "In the Eyes of Our Children: Houston, an American City". Houston Press. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  6. ^ Geoff, Winningham (2014). Of the soil : photographs of vernacular architecture and stories of changing times in Arkansas. Fay Jones School of Architecture. (First ed.). Fayetteville. ISBN 978-1557286598. OCLC 866937403.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  7. ^ Jimmie., Killingsworth, M. (2011). Going back to Galveston : nature, funk, and fantasy in a favorite place. Winningham, Geoff. (1st ed.). College Station: Texas A & M University Press. ISBN 978-1603442947. OCLC 747411367.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Geoff., Winningham (2010). Traveling the shore of the Spanish sea : the Gulf Coast of Texas and Mexico (1st ed.). College Station: Texas A & M University Press. ISBN 978-1603441612. OCLC 680622534.
  9. ^ "Art From Our Workshops – The Pozos Art Project". Pozos Art Project. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  10. ^ Geoff, Winningham (2008). MI PUEBLO – The Pozos Children's Project: Photographs and Monotypes by Children of Mineral De Pozos, Mexico. Houston, TX: Jung Center of Houston (2008).
  11. ^ Geoff., Winningham (2003). Along forgotten river : photographs of Buffalo Bayou and the Houston Ship Channel, 1997–2001 : with accounts of early travelers to Texas, 1767–1858. Austin: Texas State Historical Association. ISBN 0876111894. OCLC 51059366.
  12. ^ Geoff., Winningham (1997). In the eye of the sun : Mexican fiestas. Le Clézio, J.-M. G. (Jean-Marie Gustave), 1940– (1st ed.). New York: W.W. Norton. ISBN 0393315843. OCLC 35086198.
  13. ^ Geoff., Winningham (1987). Rice University : a 75th anniversary portrait. Boles, John B., Calhoun, Fryar. (1st ed.). Houston: Rice University Press. ISBN 0892632658. OCLC 16003967.
  14. ^ Geoff., Winningham (1986). A place of dreams : Houston, an American city. Reinert, Al. (1st ed.). Houston, Tex.: Rice University Press. ISBN 0892632631. OCLC 13859188.
  15. ^ Geoff., Winningham (1979). Rites of fall : high school football in Texas. Reinert, Al. Austin: University of Texas Press. ISBN 0292770200. OCLC 5264336.
  16. ^ Winningham, Geoff (1974). Geoff Winningham: Photographs. Houston, TX: Houston Museum of Fine Arts.
  17. ^ Winningham, Geoff (1972). Going Texan: The Days of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. New York, NY: Horizon Press.
  18. ^ Gonzales, J.R. (June 11, 2010). "1975 documentary celebrates 10th anniversary of the Astrodome". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  19. ^ "October 1991 Archives – Texas Monthly". Texas Monthly. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  20. ^ "A Fool for Mules". Texas Monthly. April 30, 1991. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  21. ^ "October 1988 Archives – Texas Monthly". Texas Monthly. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  22. ^ "Football, Game of Life". Texas Monthly. September 30, 1983. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  23. ^ Morris, Jan (December 1982). "281". Texas Monthly. December 1982: 166–175 – via Google Books.
  24. ^ Morris, Jan (June 1982). "Foat Wuth, The Eternal City". Texas Monthly. June 1982: 150–159 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ Morris, Jan (October 1981). "Houston, Texas: City of Destiny". Texas Monthly. October 1981: 130–139, 222–226 – via Google Books.
  26. ^ Winningham, Geoff (August 1976). "Beach Party". Texas Monthly. August 1976: 90–94 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ Winningham, Geoff (June 1976). "Our Town". Texas Monthly. June 1976: 114–124 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ "Geoff Winningham | Dallas Museum of Art Uncrated". Dallas Museum of Art Uncrated. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  29. ^ "Geoff Winningham: In Place – Glasstire". Glasstire { Texas Visual Art }. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  30. ^ Boyd, Robert (March 18, 2012). "Geoff Winningham at Koelsch Gallery". The Great God Pan is Dead. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  31. ^ "Geoff Winningham : Photographers : Robert Anderson Gallery". Robert Anderson Gallery. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  32. ^ "MI PUEBLO: The Pozos Children's Project Photographs and Monotypes by Children of Mineral de Pozos, Mexico". The Wittliff Collections. March 27, 2008. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  33. ^ a b "Faculty Information System Scholarly Interest Report". Rice University Faculty Information System. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  34. ^ "Photographer captures celebration of life during days of the dead". The Utah Statesman. November 8, 2004. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  35. ^ Hardy, Michael (August 18, 2018). "The Top Houston Art Galleries of 1976". Houstonia. Retrieved February 14, 2018.
  36. ^ Gilbert, Ruth (July 28, 1975). "In and Around Town: A Critical Guide to Entertainment in the New York Area". New York. 28 July 1975: 24 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ "Photography: Past Exhibitions (1925–Present)". Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  38. ^ "Search the Collection | Museum of Fine Arts Houston". Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  39. ^ "Geoff Winningham | MoMA". Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  40. ^ "Collection | Metropolitan Museum of Art". Metropolitan Museum of Art. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  41. ^ "Geoff Winningham SFMOMA". San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  42. ^ "Collections Search – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston". Museum of Fine Arts Boston. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  43. ^ "Search results – winningham | Harvard Art Museums". Harvard Art Museums. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  44. ^ "Geoff Winningham | Princeton University Art Museum". Princeton University Art Museum. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  45. ^ "DMA Collections Online". Dallas Museum of Art (DMA). Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  46. ^ "Sublime Light: A Survey of American Photographs from the Permanent Collection". Mutual Art. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  47. ^ "Photographers in the Southwestern & Mexican Photography Collection". The Wittliff Collections. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  48. ^ "Search Results: "Winningham, Geoff" – Prints & Photographs Online Catalog (Library of Congress)". United States Library of Congress. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  49. ^ "Professor Geoff Winningham received Ned Shank Award for Outstanding Preservation Publication for recent book, 'Of the Soil: Photographs of Vernacular Architecture and Stories of Changing Times in Arkansas'".
  50. ^ "2011 Jackson Book Prize". Foundation for Landscape Studies. Retrieved February 26, 2018.
  51. ^ "Geoff Winningham | Texas State Historical Association (TSHA)". Texas State Historical Association (TSHA). Retrieved February 26, 2018.

External links[edit]

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