"Married to Adventure"

Organized by Smith Kramer Fine Art Services

Kansas City, Missouri

(On display from April 27, 2007 to July 8, 2007)

"Married to Adventure" recounts the daring, early 20th century world travels of Martin and Osa Johnson as illustrated by their unprecedented photographs, films and writings. This exhibition focuses on the elements that embodied the Johnson's careers and made their expeditions and legacy possible. "Married to Adventure" offers stunning pictures most Americans have never seen before and images of a world that today exists only in the photographic record they have left behind. This exhibit contains seventy black and white reproductions reproduced from the original prints and approximately twenty artifacts.

In a time when most Americans never ventured beyond their own shores, the young Kansas couple brought home the sights - and later sounds - of faraway places that were as wild as they were beautiful. In their films and books, they introduced the public to exotic peoples and presented close-up encounters with epic creatures of lore and legend. The images the Johnsons shined on silver screens across the nation electrified audiences. Each expedition contained heightened thrills and crossed yet another frontier of both exploration and cinematography. Many Americans still thought of Africa as the "Dark Continent" - a treacherous, foreboding place. Through their films the Johnson's shattered this common but outdated perspective. Martin and Osa's Africa was a beautiful place, overflowing with amazing landscapes, huge herds of animals and fascinating peoples and it was only momentarily dangerous when they got too close to the animals.

Much has changed since the Johnsons' heyday in the first half of the century, but the cultures and wildlife they captured on film are frozen in time. Despite Martin and Osa's primitive equipment and initial inexperience, their films and photos continue to be of great value to filmmakers, historians, botanists, zoologists and anthropologists.

Martin and Osa Johnson

 

Lake Paradise Garden Harvest

 

Osa Johnson on Crocodile

 

Martin and Osa Johnson on Travel Trunks

 

Osa with Loaded Camel