If you attended one of the many celebrations held in conjunction with St. Augustine's 450th anniversary last summer, chances are, you may have been one of the 450 faces included in Michael LeGrand's "Faces of the 450th" project.
The project, which highlighted the diversity and individuality of St. Augustine residents and public figures through a series of headshots, will be on display in the Rotunda Gallery at the St. Johns County Administration Building from February 7 through April 20, 2017. There will be an opening reception Tuesday, February 7, beginning at 8:15 a.m., prior to the Board of County Commission meeting. Light refreshments will be served, and the public is invited and encouraged to attend.
"Faces of the 450th" drew inspiration from one of photography's most amazing portfolios, the "American West Series" by Richard Avedon, which captured subjects in various posed and non-posed moments against a white backdrop, which acted as a blank canvas, allowing the subject to stand out and be highlighted. Michael LeGrand's pseudo-improvisational headshots were shot at different community events such as Farmers Markets, Music in The Plaza, and other locations. Just as Avedon's American West photos captured a diverse subset of the American culture, LeGrand's photos captured a similarly diverse subset of our St. Augustine community. The final project was ultimately displayed on large mounted billboards in front of the Lightner Museum, the St. Augustine Visitors Center, and the St. Augustine Amphitheatre.
