MINNEAPOLIS — Howard Christopherson has hosted more than a hundred shows at Icebox Quality Framing and Gallery in northeast Minneapolis.
But he can't remember one quite like this.
He's featuring the work of his good friend and fellow photographer, Marc Norberg's. Norberg has photographed celebrities, the Blues, his struggles with bipolar disorder and more.
"Marc has been an inspiration for me and a lot of photographers in the Cities," he said.
Christopherson had Norberg in his studio Friday, hours before hundreds would begin to flood into his gallery at the King Northrop Building.
"Who's that guy?" asked Christopherson, pointing out Norberg's self-portrait.
"That guy is one of my best friends," joked Norberg.
"Did you tell him to quit smoking?" Christopherson joked.
As he led Norberg through the exhibit, Norberg happily recalled moments with his models, and how he managed to perfectly contrast the whites and blacks of the photograph.
But every few frames, he paused when Christopherson asked a question.
"I don't remember," he would reply.
Nearly 70 years old, Norberg has moderate dementia and needs around-the-clock care.
As he walked around Icebox's gallery, he stopped to reflect on a biography on the wall.
"My Dad was a pharmacist then and had a small store on the corner of 6th and Franklin in the east side of my hometown of Sioux Falls, South Dakota," it read.
He reflected on how he moved away to pursue photography, and how part of him was sorry he never moved back.
"Hey, you worked so hard making so many great photographs for so many people," Christopherson said with his hand on Marc's shoulder.
Marc said he doesn't necessarily miss photography.
"I had my run," he said.
With that being said, he's still grateful to Christopherson that he gets to see his work again and others might get the opportunity to see how he may have felt during different snapshots of his life.
"There's lots of love in these pictures, Marc," said Christopherson. "A lot of love in them."
"I know," said Marc.
Norberg's work is not for sale, but you can check out his collection this weekend on the fourth floor of the Northrup King Building inside Icebox's gallery.
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