The Special Collections Research Center will host a reception to celebrate the installation of the exhibit: Orson Welles as Family Man: Son, Husband, Father. Please join the exhibit curator, Phil Hallman, on February 12 (10:00am) to chat about this extraordinary display in the company of warm coffee and refreshments. The informal discussion will be followed by a tour of the exhibit.
This new exhibit provides a unique glimpse into the actor/director Orson Welles’ private life. Unlike previous U-M Library exhibits that focused on the artist at work, this display shows him in informal and familial environments, revealing a depth and complexity of character that are often overshadowed by his fame and professional achievements. The photographs and documents displayed showcase a variety of emotional tones — warmth, humor, tenderness, and passion. Candid and relaxed more than posed, these photographs are similar to most people's pictures in old family albums.
Culled from the Orson Welles-Beatrice Welles materials that are part of the Mavericks & Makers collection within the U-M Library’s Special Collections Research Center, each photo or letter tells a story of a connection Welles held dearly. The materials included are from two periods: the late 1920s and early 1930s, when Welles was a teenager, and the mid-1950s to early 1960s, during the early years of his marriage to his third wife, Paola Mori.
This event will take place in the Hatcher Gallery on February 12, from 10:00-11:00am.