The publicist for photographer Matthew Rolston’s book, Talking Heads, The Vent Haven Portraits (featured in this 2012 CityBeat article), recently sent photos from Rolston’s book-publication party in L.A. Here’s an excerpt from the accompanying release:
“On Friday, May 10th, actress and author Diane Keaton, renowned art collector Kay Saatchi and Joel Chen, owner of Los Angeles’ top resource for antiques and vintage furniture JF Chen, celebrated influential American celebrity photographer and director Matthew Rolston’s new book at JF Chen. Featuring 100 ‘headshots’ of a rare collection of ventriloquist dummies unearthed from the intimate and obscure Vent Haven Museum in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky (the world’s only museum dedicated to the art of ventriloquism), the book is a departure from the celebrity portraiture for which Rolston is known and marks his first foray into the world of fine art.”
A documentary about Rolston’s project also was shown. Other guests included actor John C. Reilly and songwriter Diane Warren. Vent Haven, incidentally, is planning an exhibit of the photos, though not the large-format prints shown at Chen’s store.
Actor John C. Reilly. Photo: Provided.
The book and its subject matter have proven a real draw, earning articles and photo spreads in many publications and making “obscure” Vent Haven one of Cincinnati’s most fascinating museums.
For hours and more information on Vent Haven Museum, go here.
This article appears in Jun 12-18, 2013.
