Penn Museum | Traveling Exhibits

In June 1931, Penn Museum launched its first archaeological expedition to Iran. Erich F. Schmidt, a young German WWI veteran and archaeologist, led this project and documented it with nearly 2, 6000 unusual photographs, a cultural trove of immediate resonance. This exhibit is comprised of 50 of these photographs.

Schmidt and his team engaged in some of the earliest aerial reconnaissance of the spectacular natural land forms in order to pinpoint their archaeological efforts,
creating innovative survey methodology as they went. His revealing and intimate photographs—often taken under far from ideal conditions, likes sandstorms—chronicle a time on the threshold of social and economic change, from bazaars to coffee- and teahouses, to farming and the splendor of magnificent mosques and settlements in a brutally beautiful uncompromising landscape, filled with history.

The show is supplemented by a full-color companion book, and can be expanded to include more photographs.

Availability	Spring 2008
Gallery Space	min. 200 running feet
Venue Period	12 weeks. Every effort will be made to accommodate special requests from borrowers.
Contents	50 framed wall-ready photographs Venues may alter the arrangement and number of images they exhibit. Public relations material will be provided prior to the opening of the exhibit. A large-format hard cover book and related poster are also available. Speaker is available on request.
Shipping	To be arranged by the University of Pennsylvania Museum. Venue is responsible for inbound shipping costs.
Insurance	Covered by Penn Museum.
Installation/ Deinstallation	No courier necessary. Qualified staff at borrowing institution will install and deinstall the exhibition.
Requirements	Facility report must be submitted for review before approval of loan. Borrowing institutions must complete incoming and outgoing condition reports. The borrower must adhere to temperature and light controls for this exhibit.
Contacts	Katherine Blanchard Traveling Exhibits Coordinator 215-746-6976 kblancha@sas.upenn.edu