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July 19, 2010
Grand Circle Gallery: Celebrating the world we travel through art
Alan and I are as passionate about art as we are about travel—so we’re doubly excited to see paintings, photographs, sculptures, and other works of art that showcase the beauty and diversity that exists in our world. We particularly enjoy vintage travel posters: striking, colorful lithographs created during the “Golden Age of Travel” that enticed those who gazed upon them to embark on journeys to distant lands.
Looking at these works of art today, it’s easy to imagine the emotional impact they had on a contemporary audience. This was the turn of the 20th century, after all—a time when advances in technology and transportation were at last making it possible for people to discover the joy of traveling for its own sake. Seeing these beautiful posters undoubtedly inspired countless dreams of exploration in many who, until then, had never considered venturing beyond the comforts of home.
Alan and I bought our first vintage travel posters many years ago—and we’ve been adding steadily to our collection ever since. Recently, we decided it was time to share these delightful works of art with a broader audience … and that’s why we created the Grand Circle Gallery, a special space in our Boston headquarters where OAT and Grand Circle travelers, as well as the general public, can view them, free of charge.
And that’s not all you’ll find in the Grand Circle Gallery. Our collection also includes the breathtaking black-and-white photography of our dear friend, Bradford Washburn. A founding member of Grand Circle Foundation, Brad was an accomplished mountaineer, skilled cartographer, and talented aerial landscape photographer. His images—two of which I’ve included here—capture the majestic beauty of some of the world’s most demanding mountains, and are notable for their simplicity and elegance.
You’ll also see some of the other photography we’ve collected through the years—some travel-related, like the vintage images of Europe photographed by George Daniell, and some reflective of times of historic world change, like the dramatic portrayals of the Civil Rights Movement captured by photographer and filmmaker Danny Lyon and photographs of the 1960s by Elliott Erwitt, including a portrait of Jacqueline Kennedy at her husband’s funeral in 1963.
The Grand Circle Gallery officially opens to the public this Friday, July 23, 2010. As a special benefit to you, our travelers, we’ll be happy to provide complimentary, private tours for you and your friends. You can schedule a visit by contacting Mark Schianca at 617-346-6294 for details. If you happen to be in or around the Boston area in the coming weeks, I hope you’ll consider stopping by OAT’s headquarters to view the works in our exhibit … and celebrate the spirit of wonder and adventure they evoke.
© Bradford Washburn, courtesy Decaneas Archive, Boston, MA
Harriet Lewis