Opening Reception: History in Focus—People, Politics, and Pivotal Events Through the Lens of Chris Niedenthal

The Round Rock Public Library proudly presents an exhibition of photographs by legendary award-winning European photojournalist Chris Niedenthal. The exhibition, History in Focus—People, Politics, and Pivotal Events Through the Lens of Chris Niedenthal, will be on display on the third floor from October 20 through November 20, 2024. It features nearly 60 curated and annotated photographs documenting social and political changes in Central and Eastern Europe from the 1960s to the present day.  

Join us from 3:30 to 6 p.m., Sunday, October 20, for the exhibit’s grand opening at Round Rock Public Library. Attendees will have the unique opportunity to meet Chris Niedenthal in person and hear the stories behind his iconic photographs. Dr. Steven Seegel, Associate Chair of Slavic and Eurasian Studies at UT Austin, will make a historical introduction and moderate the conversation with Chris Niedenthal. We are especially excited that some classes at Round Rock ISD have incorporated the exhibit into their curriculum. Students and staff from Round Rock ISD’s Journalism, Arts, and Social Studies will be among the special guests at the Opening.

Register for the reception

Everyone is also invited to attend Visual Stories, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Harry Ransom Center, 300 W. 21st St. Austin, TX 78712. Join a thought-provoking discussion on the role of photography in recording and shaping historical narratives with Chris Niedenthal and Dr. Steve Hoelscher, Dean at the College of Liberal Arts, UT Austin, and faculty curator of the Harry Ransom Center. The event is free and open to the general public. Register for Visual Stories

About Chris Niedenthal: 

Chris Niedenthal is a renowned British-Polish photographer and photojournalist, a recipient of the prestigious World Press Photo Award, whose work has been on the covers of Newsweek and Time Magazine and published in several major media outlets.  Always a freelance photographer, he worked covering Eastern and Central Europe, the Soviet Union, the Balkans, and even China. Recently, his camera turned to the Ukrainians seeking refuge in Poland while fleeing their Russian-invaded homeland. Niedenthal has been called a visual historian as his photographs make history come alive and acquire human faces. He is famous for photographing world leaders and ordinary people, capturing their emotional responses to social and political changes. Niedenthal’s photography offers insight into the past that continues to impact the present.

About the Organizer

DOT DOT DOT CONNECT (DDDC) is an Austin arts nonprofit founded in 2020 by four Polish immigrant women with a vision to connect people through Art. Their mission states: 

• We provide a meeting place for diverse communities to experience art together. 
• We look for and create connections between different art fields. 
• We collaborate with artists and partner with groups devoted to promoting visual arts, film, music, and healthy living. 

The DDDC team’s collective experience and education serves their mission by engaging the community and creating connections across physical and societal borders.