Meatyard, Ralph Eugene. Creative Camera No. 219. March 1983. Featuring Ralph Eugene Meatyard

"The Gothic Meatyard," cover story in entire issue of this British magazine. Meatyard article with 8 photos, 6 full page, text by Martin Harrison on the occasion of the first Ralph Meatyard exhibit in Great Britain, March 15-April 15, 1983, at The Olympus Centre. Other articles include illustrated (36 photos) review of Chris Killip exhibition by Rob Powell; Susan Butler on Roland Barthes; Steve Baker's attack on Barthes' book, Camera Lucida; Interview of Murray Martin re The Side Gallery, Newcastle; and Mark Haworth-Booth on photographs by Chris Killip and Marketa Luskacova at the Victoria & Albert Museum. Ex-library with library stamps at top and bottom of front cover, otherwise very good. Summary:

The March 1983 issue of Creative Camera is a significant edition of the influential British photographic magazine. This issue functions as a major critical milestone, anchoring its content around a definitive feature celebrating the first-ever exhibition of American photographer Ralph Eugene Meatyard in Great Britain.

Key Focus Areas

• The Meatyard Feature: The issue’s cover story focuses heavily on the eerie, dreamlike work of Ralph Eugene Meatyard to coincide with his landmark solo exhibition at The Olympus Centre in London. It includes an extensive critical essay by Martin Harrison alongside portfolio images showcasing Meatyard's signature style—characterized by family members posing in uncanny latex masks, intentional motion blur, and unsettling narratives set in abandoned buildings.

• The Killip and Luskacová Showcases: The magazine devotes significant coverage to influential contemporary documentary photography. It features an illustrated review by Rob Powell analyzing a major exhibition by Chris Killip, alongside commentary by Mark Haworth-Booth reviewing the stark, powerful documentary imagery of both Killip and Czech photographer Markéta Luskačová.

• The Interrogation of Roland Barthes: The issue engages deeply with photographic theory of the era. It presents a dual-sided critique of the seminal French literary theorist Roland Barthes, featuring a piece by Susan Butler alongside a direct analytical critique by Steve Baker aimed at Barthes’ highly influential book Camera Lucida.

• Independent Spaces: The publication highlights the infrastructure of independent photographic curation. It features an in-depth interview with Murray Martin regarding the operational philosophy and exhibition goals of The Side Gallery in Newcastle, a crucial hub for raw, humanistic documentary practice in the UK.