One late night in Bali, the idea for this exhibition and publication was conceived while walking down a dusty road with my dear friend Alan Feinstein, director of programs for the arts for the Ford Foundation in Jakarta, Indonesia. In discussing the Festival of Indonesia, then in the planning stages, and its extensive list of exhibitions, we both realized that none would be photographic. Alan felt that my background in photography and my knowledge of the country made a perfect marriage of abilities to create a photographic component for the Festival. My journey began, and two years later, with the help of numerous supporters, Toward Independence: A Century of Indonesia Photographed has come to fruition.

The Festival of Indonesia Committee in both New York and Indonesia accepted the idea, and they have been exttemely supportive of the project. I extend my appreciation to the organizers of the Festival—Ted Tanen, Anthony Granucci, Maggie Weintraub, Niki Phillips and Cecelia Levin. Thomas Seligman, of the M. H. de Young Museum, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, was instrumental in introducing the project to Ronald Egherman, executive director of The Friends of Photography. Ron enthusiastically embraced the idea of producing the exhibition fot the Ansel Adams Center and publishing this catalogue.

Sincere appreciation is extended to both of them, as well as to the staff of The Friends.

After researching many collections, from the Claire Holt Collection at the Lincoln Center Archives in New York City to the Colin McPhee Collection at the University of California, Los Angeles, Dr. Hildred Geertz, of Princeton University, told me, "Go to the Netherlands, my friend; it's all there." It made sense, of course, since Holland had been Indonesia's colonial ruler for three hundred years, important materials would surely be archived rhere.

There are many people behind the scenes whose guidance, professional skills and friendship have greatly contributed to this project. They include Sandra Phillips, Diana du Pont, Eric Crystal, Edward Guerrero and Bruce Katz. Kunang Helmi was pivotal in helping my research both in the United States and abroad; her fundraising efforts are also appreciated. My meetings with M. Henri Cartier-Bresson were a wonderful source of shared feelings, insight and inspiration; and Tassilo Adam's daughter-in-law, Mrs. Elanore Adam, was most generous with her time as well as with her photographic collection.

Sincere appreciation is due to the book's writers for the depth of their research and the breadth of their contributions. They have certainly broken new critical ground in their discussions of Indonesian photography. For their gracious generosity and assistance beyond the call of curatorial duty, I am also grateful to Marie-Pierre Giffey, of Magnum Photos, Inc., in Paris; Henk Van Rinsum of the Tropenmuseum in Amsterdam; Anneke Groeneveld, of the Museum of Ethnology in Rotterdam; Pauline Scheurleer of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam; Hedi Hinzler, ofLeiden University; Leo Haks, of Amsterdam; H. J. Moeshart, of the Prentenkabinet in Leiden; and Ellen Raven, of the Kern Institute in Leiden. Thanks also to Jan van de Kooi, for his excellent reproduction photographs, and to Adelaida Mejia, for her sensitive design of the book. Sjamsir Sjarif provided Indonesian translations of wall-label material for the exhibition.

For their generosity in helping to fund the exhibition and publication, recognition goes to the Columbia Foundation, the Springhouse Foundation, the Thendara Foundation and Rosewood Stone Group. Special thanks goes to David Featherstone for supervising production of the catalogue and particularly for skillfully meeting the challenge presented by sixteen essays from writers in several different countries. His time and heartfelt interest in both Indonesia and this project have been a tremendous sustaining thread.

Finally, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Larry Reed, for his faith in my abilities; and to John Bloom, for his constant help and support, persistent encouragement, insightful curatorial eye and profound friendship. Without him, Toward Independence would never have reached completion.

Jane Levy Reed, May 1991

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