John Szarkowski died last Saturday. He was 81. As a photographer, his early influences were Walker Evans and Edward Weston. As a curator at the Museum of Modern Art (Edward Steicehn chose him as his own replacement), he introduced Diane Arbus, Lee Friedlander and Garry Winogrand in his exhibition “New Documents” at the Museum of Modern Art in 1967. “Their aim has been not to reform life, but to know it,” he said at the time. In 1976, he introduced the work of William Eggleston. There’s so much more. But more than anyone of his generation, he played a key role in elevating photography to the level of art. A retrospective of his own work toured the country starting in 2005, ending a year later at the Modern. There’s an excellent interview with him here in LA Weekly. Lens Culture has a small collection of his photographs. (Cross-posted at APAD.)

as a Minnesota Native as well  the other name that pops is Warren Mckanzie  Mckanzie Now mosklikey in his 80"s now graduating from the University of Wisconsin (art history) in 1948, I reamber a story that was told to me in Jr high at a weekend camp at the Walker Art center  back in the 1980's. How this amazing Photographer decided to take photos of waht was then Ordinary potery. 

Minnesota Public Radio has audio from a call in show, and photos of some of his work, here.

I was not on of the lucky ones who got to study at Minneapolis Institute of Arts.  with so may great teachers how are no longer with us.Insted I chose Willmar Vo tech now Rigewater college and went down the path of a Studio Photographer.