UW-Parkside Announces the Opening of a Special Exhibit “Al Fredrickson: A Master Photojournalist in Focus” July 18

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is pleased to announce the opening of a special exhibition “Al Fredrickson: A Master Photojournalist in Focus” on Tuesday, July 18.

This photojournalism exhibit will be open through Friday, November 17 with a public reception scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 14 from 4-6 p.m. The exhibition will be hosted in the Foundation Gallery, located in the Rita Tallent Picken Regional Center for Arts and Humanities, and is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

This exhibition showcases Fredrickson's work, often with his own captions, as a photojournalist over a decade for the British-based Reuters News Agency. Many of his submitted photos were distributed worldwide, covering major news stories in Wisconsin, the Midwest, nationwide, and include heartbreaking images of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation in New Orleans as well as spectacular NASA launches of the Space Shuttle program. 

Born on August 23, 1951, Al Fredrickson died on April 9, 2021 in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Fredrickson attended local Kenosha public schools and functioned as the primary photographer of the Tremper High School Tempest student newspaper and Classic student yearbook.

He graduated with a BA in Communication Arts from the UW-Parkside in 1976 where he also worked as one of the university’s first campus photographers. He also served in the U.S. Army as a military police officer (MP) at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in the early 1970s. 

“Al was considered by his professional colleagues to be one of the best photojournalists in Wisconsin," said Dr. Lesley Heins Walker, Dean of the UW-Parkside College of Art and Humanities. "This exhibition celebrates and honors his exceptional achievements as a UW-Parkside graduate. We are pleased to spotlight his work for the benefit of our communities, both here at Parkside and in Southeastern Wisconsin.”

Featuring over 50 of his photos, the exhibition showcases Al Fredrickson’s unique 45-year photojournalism career and own life, beginning with his boyhood home in Pleasant Prairie, WI.

Fredrickson mastered professional sports photography like few others. He took superb action photos, capturing some of the greatest players of the Green Bay Packers, the Milwaukee Brewers and the Milwaukee Bucks.

His early black and white photos include notable persons like 15-year-old superstar Michael Jackson in 1974 and TV’s “Twilight Zone” creator Rod Serling. He presented close-up views of Presidents Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan and civil rights leader Julian Bond.

Fredrickson also worked for the Kenosha News, Racine Journal Times, Waukegan News-Sun, Waukesha Freeman newspaper and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

This exhibition was built off “More Than a Thousand Words: The Photography of Al Fredrickson,” an exhibition at The Pleasant Prairie History Museum. Don Fredrickson, Walt Ulbricht, and Kate Bennett (Pleasant Prairie History Museum curator) were integral in the production of this exhibition. For more information, contact Colin Matthes, UW-Parkside’s Gallery Director at matthes@uwp.edu or visit www.uwp.edu/therita/.

Photo captions:

Top Photo: Headshot of Al Fredrickson

Second Photo: Boy prances through summer fire hydrant spray. Light crystallizes magically through a water cascade. “A boy runs past spray from an illegally opened fire hydrant in Milwaukee, Wisconsin as people seek relief from a heat wave.” August 1, 2006. AF.

Bottom Left Photo: Rocker Bruce Springsteen in concert. The heart of rock ‘n roll. “Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band perform in Veterans Park in Milwaukee at the 105th anniversary of the Harley-Davidson Company.” September 1, 2006. AF.

Bottom Right Photo: Discovery Space Shuttle photo: "Initial launch of the Discovery Space Shuttle on August 30, 1984 at the Kennedy Space Center."

The University of Wisconsin-Parkside is committed to high-quality educational programs, creative and scholarly activities, and services responsive to its diverse student population, and its local, national, and global communities. We are a dynamic learning community grounded in academic excellence and focused on student success, diversity, inclusion, and community engagement. The campus serves as a premier comprehensive public institution and a destination of choice, serving as a focal point of local, regional, and global progress.

Media contact:

Derek Fye
Communications Manager
University of Wisconsin-Parkside
Fye@uwp.edu | (262) 771-5419