SCHOOL STUDENTS SAFE FROM AMERICAN PHOTOGRAPHIC MASTERPIECE

In 1949, the photographer Harry Callahan took a photograph of his wife swimming. She appears to tread water, her head, shoulders above the rippling surface, her hair fanning out around her, and slightly visible under the rippled reflection of the water, her left breast.

Callahan (1912-1999) photographed his wife as one of his prime subjects. Eleanor was essential to his art from 1947 to 1960. He photographed her everywhere - at home, in the city streets, in the landscape, alone, with their daughter, in black and white and in color, nude and clothed.

By the time of his death in 1999, Callahan left behind 100,000 negatives and over 10,000 proof prints. He is widely regarded as one of the great innovators of modern American photography, and the photograph “Eleanor, Chicago, 1949” is considered one of his greatest masterpieces.

In 2007, the photo was part of an exhibit from University of Nebraska in Lincoln, called “Flow” with the theme is water. The exhibit traveled to eight Nebraska schools, but when it arrived in North Platte, it raised concerns.

The Callahan photo was deemed “too revealing to be shown to younger students,” said associate North Platte superintendent Dan Twarling at a meeting of the North Platte Board of Education.

The photograph was originally scheduled to be among 25 works of art displayed for 30 days at the McKinley Education Center. Students from public schools typically are bussed to the show and guided through the exhibit by trained docents.

The photograph in question might not have caused much concern if it wasn’t for another art incident three years prior. An oil painting called “Widow's Walk," by Nebraska painter James Cantrell was removed from the traveling Sheldon art show in North Platte. In a style evocative of Edward Hopper, the painting depicts the top story of an ornate Victorian house with the figure of a woman semi-visible through a window. She appears to be wearing a bra. Some parents protested that work of art; others complained when it was withdrawn from the show.

So three years later, when the University of Nebraska exhibit was slated to whistle-stop in North Platte, school officials sent a letter to parents at three elementary schools, explaining the situation. The school officials planned to send the letter to all of the other affected schools and have the matter discussed at the school board meeting, however, after receiving initial responses from parents, North Platte’s elementary principals decided to pull the photograph. Some parents who responded recommended stopping the entire show, said Twarling. Julie Jacobson of North Platte’s arts council countered that the show was reputable and carefully designed.

In the end, the Callahan classic was not seen by North Platte elementary school students.