Diary
‘Into the Rearview Mirror’ a film series selection organized by Annie Leibovitz
Annie Leibovitz, Sly Stone, Highway 5, California, 1973, 2019, Silver gelatin print, 39.1 x 91.8 cm / 15 3/8 x 36 1/8 © Annie Leibovitz. Photo: Genevieve Hanson
While most of the world sits sequestered at home during these uncertain times, it's more compelling than ever to daydream of jumping into a car and journeying onto the open road. It is this notion of driving away, road tripping, going on a journey, or making an escape that is the inspiration for ‘Into the Rearview Mirror’ a film series selection organized by Annie Leibovitz.
‘Road trips were at the heart of my work in the early years at Rolling Stone. It was a continuation of my childhood. Seeing things through a car window was something that I had been doing all my life.’—Annie Leibovitz, 2019
Annie Leibovitz, Driving Series, 1970–1984, 2019 © Annie Leibovitz. Photo: Genevieve Hanson
‘I got tired of spending the whole trip looking into the rearview mirror for policemen and just let them pull me over.’
‘My last car when I lived in California was a ‘63 Porsche—a 356C Cabriolet. I would throw my equipment in the back and drive down Highway 5, which was a straight shot to L.A. That section of Highway 5 is flat and built for speed. It wasn’t a big deal to go 80 or 90 miles an hour, and you could push it to 100.... Then in 1974, because of something to do with the oil embargo and fuel efficiency, Nixon changed the speed limits on all the federal highways to 55. I got tired of spending the whole trip looking into the rearview mirror for policemen and just let them pull me over. I had a new Polaroid SX-70 and I would ask them if they minded if I took their picture. The SX-70 was a beautiful camera—sleek and fast. It was dazzling. I would take two pictures and give the policeman one. They were mesmerized, although they always gave me the ticket anyway.’—Annie Leibovitz, 2019
Although the films selected depict racing 90 miles per hour on the highways of California, ‘Into the Rearview Mirror’ is a selection of films Annie made intended to be enjoyed from the comfort of one’s home.
TWO-LANE BLACKTOPDirected by Monte Hellman19711 hr 45 minBlu-Ray/DVD for purchase at Criterion CollectionWatch the trailer
From a Distance is an ongoing series of personal videos from our artists and friends. We hope that sharing messages, videos and inspiration from artists’ homes and studios can bring us all closer together as we navigate this new reality. Follow us on Instagram and sign up to our newsletter to receive our ‘Dispatches’ of online exhibitions, original videos, and experiences.