Thursday, September 24, 2009

‘Athlete: The Sports Illustrated Photography of Walter Iooss’ Opens Oct. 9 at the Newseum

WASHINGTON, Sept. 24 — See some of the greatest names in sports as you’ve never seen them before in “Athlete,” a new Newseum exhibit featuring highlights from the career of legendary Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss Jr. For this exclusive exhibit, Iooss selected more than 40 photos that represent his favorite moments from nearly 50 years as a sports photographer.

From classic images of superstars such as Muhammad Ali, Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan, Serena Williams and Michael Phelps to photos of children playing soccer and stickball, Iooss’s work reflects a lifetime of documenting the impulse that connects all athletes: a pure love of the sport. His photos have appeared on more than 300 Sports Illustrated covers — the most by any photographer.

“‘Athlete’ truly captures the passion and personalities of sports worldwide, and these powerful images are amplified by Walter Iooss’s own words,” said Ken Paulson, president of the Newseum.

Iooss’s descriptions of his photographs provide an insider’s look at some of the legends of the sports world. He talks about his relationship with his favorite athlete, Michael Jordan, and recalls the emotional day he photographed his boyhood hero, Johnny Unitas, whose hand was so damaged by football that he couldn’t hold a cup of coffee.

Also on display in “Athlete” are Iooss’s personal diaries, filled with collages of his photos, quirky headlines and his handwritten notes. The exhibit includes an original Newseum-produced video in which the photographer talks about his photos and the bonds he forged with his subjects.

Iooss (pronounced “yose,” as in “dose”) has been called the “photo laureate of American sports.” He started photographing sports events at age 16, when his father gave him a camera. Two years later, his photos appeared in Sports Illustrated for the first time.

Many of the photos in “Athlete: The Sports Illustrated Photography of Walter Iooss” were published in Iooss’s 2008 book, “Athlete.” The Newseum exhibit includes Iooss’s most famous photograph, “The Catch,” which captured the last-minute touchdown catch by San Francisco 49ers’ receiver Dwight Clark that ended the Dallas Cowboys’ Super Bowl dreams in 1982.

“Athlete” will be on display at the Newseum from Oct. 9 through Dec. 31, 2009.

About the Newseum
The Newseum — a 250,000-square-foot museum of news — offers visitors an experience that blends five centuries of news history with up-to-the-second technology and hands-on exhibits. Within its seven levels of galleries and theaters, the Newseum offers a unique environment that takes museum-goers behind the scenes to experience how and why news is made.

The Newseum is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day. Admission is $20 for adults, $18 for seniors (65 and older) and $13 for youth (7 to 18). Annual memberships also are available. For additional information, call 888/NEWSEUM (888/639-7386) or visit newseum.org.

Media contact:
Jonathan Thompson, 202/292-6353