The last construction phase of Leitz Park is now completed. You can visit the new building complex on Sunday, June 17th. I think the official opening will happen a few days before that, together with the announcement of the rumored Leica C-M mirrorless camera and possibly a few other new products (see the full list of expected products here).
Leitz Park features a museum, gallery, archive, store, hotel, CW Sonderoptic GmbH headquarters and more:
Full press release (translated from German):
There is a new milestone in the history of Leica Camera AG: two years after the groundbreaking ceremony, the company celebrates the completion of the Leitz-Park area in Wetzlar. Visitors are welcome on Sunday, June 17, 2018 from 10am to 6pm, the new building complex with the recently opened arcona living Ernst Leitz Hotel, the Leica building with museum, archive, photo studio, store and museum shop, the new building of the CW Sonderoptic GmbH and an office tower to visit. Interested parties can look forward to numerous high-profile exhibitions and a varied program around the Leica photography and sports optics.
A special highlight is the anniversary exhibition “Augen Auf! 100 years of Leica photography “, which is now hosting successful events all over the world in the Leitz Park. The focus of this traveling exhibition with impressive pictures by famous Leica photographers and numerous exhibits from 100 years of small-format photography is the revolutionary change brought about by a technical innovation – the handy “Ur-Leica”. The miniature camera helped contribute to change and progress in the field of photography, but also for a significant social revolution: images that are imprinted in the collective memory, are mostly with the “Leica” from the 1920s ( “Leitz Camera”) have been photographed and have impressively documented the current affairs.
The Leica Gallery will be showing photos of Bruce Davidson , who will receive the Leica Hall of Fame Award 2018 for his life’s work and achievements in photography this year. Many of his picture series have long been inscribed in the canon of the most important reports and inventories of everyday life in the United States. Whether “Brooklyn Gang”, “East 100th Street”, “Subway” or the story of the short-lived circus clown: These photographs touch then as now. Without a doubt Bruce Davidson is not a typical photojournalist who works for daily sensations, but he manages to open often astonishing insights into otherwise closed milieu in his sensitive portrait series the viewer.
In addition to the opening three more exhibitions, which will be presented in the new Leica Store, including images by Ray Barbee. Since 1989, Ray Barbee has caused quite a stir as a skateboarder. Today he is also known as a jazz musician and also makes a name for himself with his documentary recordings. The second exhibition by Tine Acke includes photographs by Udo Lindenberg. The photographer has the panic rocker for her photo book “Udo Lindenberg. Stronger Than Time – The Stadium Tour “for four years accompanies and shows a varied portfolio of close-up shots right before the show, all the way to concert photographs in a monumental rock star pose. The black and white images from the project “Darker Than Blue” by Mathieu Bitton reflect the harsh everyday life of Afro-American citizens between hope and struggle. Hands are particularly impressed with him: with filigree women’s fingers, furrowed worker’s hands or clenched fists, Bitton reveals more about a person’s personality than you might think. Another exhibition, including photos by photographer Michael Agel, can be seen on the outdoor area. The focus is on the Leitz Park, its creation to completion and history. Among other things, with photographs of the photographer Michael Agel, can be seen on the outdoor area. The focus is on the Leitz Park, its creation to completion and history. Among other things, with photographs of the photographer Michael Agel, can be seen on the outdoor area. The focus is on the Leitz Park, its creation to completion and history.
In addition to the extensive exhibition program, lectures by the two photographers Dominic Nahr and Julia Baier are also offered on Sunday, which will cover current projects and different aspects of Leica photography. In addition, signing lessons and lectures can be found at the exhibition “Augen Auf! 100 years of Leica photography “instead of. The Leica Sport Optics is presented in the “Nature Lounge” on the grounds and invites you to explore the newly created nature trail in the adjacent Leitz Park Forest. The Leica world in the main building of Leica Camera AG is also open on Sunday. Here, visitors will learn everything about the company and product history. The younger visitors can also look forward to many activities on Sunday. The program includes face painting, photography, crafting a paper camera and, of course, matches the World Cup – including football. Food, drinks and musical entertainment are also provided. Advice, sales and services are not offered on Sundays.
