Baseball photographer Bill Chapman focuses on the fans at his favorite ballpark -- the 100-year-old Rickwood Field in Birmingham, Alabama.
This morning I had the opportunity to speak with photographer Bill Chapman about his upcoming photography exhibit at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute. Chapman has photographed hundreds of games at dozens of ballparks over the past couple of decades, but his show in Birmingham highlights the work he has done at Rickwood Field — America’s Oldest Ballpark.
Rickwood — which celebrated its 100th birthday this year — was the home to the Birmingham Barons until 1987, at which time it appeared the historic stadium would fall victim to the wrecking ball. In 1993, however, Rickwood was named to the National Register of Historic Places, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Now the Barons return every year for the Rickwood Classic, and Chapman has photographed each of the past eight events. These “throwback” games have provided Chapman with the subjects for his show, titled Rickwood Field — The Color of Baseball.
Chapman is a photographer with a vision that goes far beyond the image that shows up in his viewfinder. Rather than focusing on what everyone else is looking at, namely the players — Chapman examines the people in the park. His photographs feature rich colors and sharp details, but more importantly, they provide a look into the hearts and souls of the fans. Chapman engages his fellow fans in dialogue, and attempts to connect with his subjects before making their portraits.
The Color of Baseball opens Thursday, July 1, at 6 pm and runs through August 31. To view more of Chapman’s Rickwood photographs, visit his Color of Baseball website. To see the event’s press release, click here.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I love the concept of this show but it is being juried by people who will never see the actual pieces and who are unqualified to actually jury a show….I refused to be in this one because of the fraud….spoke with the woman who is organizing it….there are authenticity questions about one of the jurors work…
the show is Springfield…there was a nice gallery jean albano who had a show 2 years ago that makes up the fine art 2/3 of the show – the curator to show simply went to their website and used their artists …then there are some memorabilia from 20 years ago(who cares…..one good illustrator Arthur Miller( but the pieces are small prints of the original) and some classic illustration for the Cards from the 60′s…….the rest is embarrassingly bad….like bad art school art…..seeing it in person makes it even worse…John Hanely is selling prints then painting over with medium to make it look like a “real”painting even though it is suppose to be watercolor How stupid is that…for up to $4ooo…..that is down right fraud
Jenniger Ettinger is just horrible…she took a the box concept..cut stuff out and decopauged…..will send you photos…will be writing a review for blogs and one for a major Chicago publication…but the review will be more like an crime blotter than an article…and there were three mislabelings of pieces….plus there was “schmutz”on most of the glass perhaps to inhance that art school feel
Margie –
I don’t think you actually read this article — because your comment is about a completely unrelated show in a different state. Bill Chapman’s “Color of Baseball” exhibit is comprised of photographs he’s taken at Rickwood Field in Birmingham, AL. Take a few minutes and read the article.
Again, Margie –
Take a few minutes to read the article before posting your comments. Your comments are not even remotely related to the article above.
Another note: You obviously have very strong feelings about this OTHER, unrelated show in Springfield, IL. I don’t know the complete story, but your comments here certainly make it appear that you are in no position to write an objective review.
Chris