Exhibit shows ‘Seeing Beauty’ in eye of beholder

The Museum of Photographic Arts (MoPA) in Balboa Park presents “Seeing Beauty,” the fifth in a series of educational exhibitions composed of works from its permanent collection, presented in a thought-provoking, interactive and experiential setting.

The exhibition explores the aesthetics of beauty, expressed through the eyes of various photographers throughout the history of the medium, including Bill Brandt, Walker Evans, Mary Ellen Mark, Edward Weston, Minor White, and Aaron Siskind.

The exhibition opens to the public on Saturday, Jan. 30 and will be on view for the course of the year, closing Jan. 23, 2011.

“Seeing Beauty” presents a range of genres in photography, such as portraiture, abstraction, landscape, and still life. The photographs in the exhibition examine the elements of art and design, composition and framing, as well as subject matter.

In examining these elements in the context of aesthetic beauty, the exhibition poses the question of how our personal interpretation and notions of what constitutes beauty affect our experience of looking at art.

The exhibition is meant to engage viewers to challenge, redefine, or confirm their understanding of what beauty is, and what factors contribute to their aesthetic evaluation.

Since its founding in 1983, MoPA has been dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting the entire spectrum of the photographic medium. The museum’s endeavors address cultural, historical and social issues through its exhibitions and public programs.

• Where: 1649 El Prado, San Diego
• Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday-Sunday.
• Admission: $4-$6 adults; free second Tuesdays.
• Contact: (619) 238-7559. mopa.org