The Wisconsin Project: Found: H.H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, WI

15.2.13

Found: H.H. Bennett Studio, Wisconsin Dells, WI

Found: The H.H. Bennett Studio founded 1865. The Bennett Studio Today. Oldest in Wisconsin
© 1965 H. H. Bennett Studio Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. Text on back of card reads: "The Studio was founded
by the late H. H. Bennett, a young Civil War veteran, in 1865. The present quarters were built in 1875 and
remodeled in 1917. Since its beginning, it has been continuously operated by members of the same family as a landscape
and portrait studio. During the lifetime of H. H. Bennett, until his death in 1908, most of his time, effort, and artistic
ability were employed in landscape photography. He built all his cameras, constantly devising improvements such as fast shutters for stop-action pictures. With these homemade cameras he made memorable views of Milwaukee, St. Paul and the bluff country of the upper Mississippi valley, but most of his photographs show the Dells of the Wisconsin and the nearby country. For over forty years he spent many days in the Dells trying to capture the best possible view of every interesting spot. Luckily the stereoscopic, or three-dimensional, photographs was very popular at the time, and the sale of Bennett's stereo-graphs of the Dells had a great influence in
bringing travelers to the Dells in the early days. Now the Bennett Studio is a century old and its operation
has covered changes in photographic methods from wet plates to color photography, and from head clamps to speed lights.
A small museum at the Studio, open to the public, shows much of the equipment used by Mr. Bennett in capturing his incomparable views.
These photographs, old and yet ever new may still be purchased at the Bennett Studio."

Found: "Watch" Jumping Stand Rock at Wisconsin Dells.
A Thrill for Camera Fans. "Watch," a trained dog, leaps the chasm
at Stand Rock, spectacular scenic formation at Wisocnsin Dells.
He affords amateur photographers an unusual "shot" and is
a thrill to all visitors. Copyrighted H. H. Bennett Studio,
Wisconsin Dells, Wis. Genuine Curteich C.T. Art Colortone postcard.
Written in ballpoint pen on the back:
"Hi Dotty. This is a card from our honeymoon that I thought
you might like to add to your collections.
I couldn't mail it in Wisc. because I didn't have your address.
We had a grant time. Sincerely, Rosie & Wimp."
Postmarked June 9, 1955.

Found: Luncheon Hall, Dells Kilbourn, Wis. No. 6.
Written in fountain pen on the back: "Dear Cousin. Received your card sometime ago but have been
so busy with my sweater. Have it all done except the collar and belt. The weahter is about the
ame lots of snow and cold. How is the baby and all of the rest of the folks. Your cousin, Sadie."
Postmarked February 19, 1909.

1 comment:

Nato20:18
I went to the Dells last summer and toured Bennett's studio based on your recommendation. It was awesome. Despite having clear enjoyable memories from a visit 30 years ago, the Dells did not disappoint!
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THE WISCONSIN PROJECT

Our research-driven Wisconsin Project contemplates the rooted-ness and state-of-mind resulting from inhabiting a single place, our native Wisconsin, for a long time. Through critiquing postcard views both made and found, we learn a great deal about past and present Wisconsin. We began making postcard views of the places immediately around our studio and on our drives around Wisconsin in about 2008. We use the vintage postcard film format and print the cards in palladium and cyanotype. By communicating details of a specific place, seeming to register only marginally on the national radar, the project seeks to bring audiences into a Wisconsin mental space. Some in the art world would argue that the Midwest, particularly Wisconsin, makes for banal “fly over” subject matter. Our project challenges that by finding meaning in the ordinary and inviting audiences to examine, dialog, and reflect on the particular emotional quality of the idiosyncrasies of place and the perceptions of those both inside and outside of it. Sometimes distant memories are involved and a longing for a time now gone. Wisconsin’s glacier inflected landscape and proximity to the Great Lakes creates an exotic arena for living that informs our project. The life cycle plays out and rural and urban ruins serve as monuments to existences as people, places, and ideas surface then vanish. Ultimately, we aim to grapple with complex perceptions of Wisconsin ranging from nostalgic, romantic, and idealized--as depicted on myriad real photo postcard and standard tourist postcards--to mysterious, dark, and Gothic as conveyed in works of art and literature such as Michael Lesy's "Wisconsin Death Trip" book and Werner Herzog's "Stroszek" film. The project culminated in a residency with workshops and community collaborations and the installation "We Go From Where We Know" at the John Michael Kohler Arts Center 10.13.2013-3.7.2014 and later the Harvestore Bandshell for Fermentation Fest in 10.2014. The blog continues the exploration of postcards.