MONTEREY, CA.- The Monterey Museum of Art presents In Sharp Focus: The Legacy of Monterey Photography, June 16-September 30, 2012 at the MMA La Mirada, 720 Via Mirada, Monterey, CA, 93940.

In Sharp Focus will examine the Group f/64 photographers—seven innovative northern California artists including Ansel Adams, Edward Weston, Imogen Cunningham, and Alma Lavenson—and their continuing legacy to the Monterey Peninsula. Turning away from the expressive, soft-focused, pictorial style of photography of the early twentieth century, these artists instead delivered realism, precision, high contrast, and intense detail without interpretive manipulation. Their approach was a modernist departure of its time, which revealed the natural world as never before and transformed American photography. Complementing these legendary photographers will be works by the succeeding generation of photographers, among them: Henry Gilpin, Rod Dresser, Al Weber, John Sexton, Martha Casanave and Wynn Bullock, who have continued to capture the evocative landscape of the Monterey Region.

The success of previous exhibitions—Ansel Adams: Portrait of America (2010) and Edward Weston: American Photographer (2011)—have solidly positioned the Monterey Museum of Art’s as a leading authority on the history of twentieth century California photography. In Sharp Focus: the Legacy of Monterey Photography will build on this critical and popular acclaim.

Enhancing the exhibition will be educational programs and activities for adults, families and children including: docent-led tours, scholarly lectures, and the Museum’s popular Family Day with free admission and art activities for all ages.