Séance: Shannon Taggart
Echo Fine Art is proud to present the first exhibition in France dedicated to American photographer Shannon Taggart. As a gallery committed to exploring photography as a medium, we are honored to introduce an artist whose work seeks to make the invisible visible.
Taggart’s engagement with Spiritualism began in her teens, after an inexplicable message from a medium revealed details about her grandfather’s death. Years later, this experience led her to Lily Dale, New York (the world’s largest Spiritualist community) where she began a photographic inquiry that grew into an eighteen-year study of mediumship, its rituals, and its visual history.
Working within Spiritualist circles in the United States, England, and Europe, Taggart investigates the fragile boundary between the material and immaterial, engaging with the movement’s long and often overlooked relationship to photography, including the historic pursuit of “ectoplasm.”
SÉANCE, presented for the first time to a French audience, features approximately 40 photographs from this extensive body of work. These haunting, carefully observed works reveal Taggart’s sustained attempt to capture what resides at the edge of perception.
ARTIST TALK: June 20th, 4pm
Join Shannon Taggart as she traces the making of Séance, also designated "Book of the Year" by TIME magazine, and her her long-term investigation into Spiritualism: its ties to celebrity, its crossings with art, science, and technology, and the strange, essential kinship it shares with photography itself. Due to limited space, RSVP is required.
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Shannon TaggartTable-tipping workshop with mediums Reverend Jane and Chris Howarth, Erie, Pennsylvania, 2014Archival pigment print81.3 x 121.9 cm
32 x 48 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartSwan on Lake Cassadaga. Lily Dale, NY, USA, 2010Archival pigment print81.3 x 121.9 cm
32 x 48 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartWomen’s Suffrage Day parade passes by the Marion Skidmore Library. Lily Dale, NY, USA, 2003Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartSandy Candy Eppinger’s family spirit photographs, showing her brother Eugene Candy with the spirits of their grandmother Ethel Philips and great aunt Helen Thompson. Lily Dale, NY, USA, 2015Archival pigment print12 x 18 cm
4 3/4 x 7 1/8 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartDetail of precipitated spirit painting of Mrs A. B.Caldwell by the Bangs sisters, with iridology assessment notes, Lily Dale Museum, NY, USA, 2018Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartKim Kitchen calls to her deceased daughter Casey and asks her for orbs, Lily Dale, NY, USA, 2014Archival pigment print50.8 x 76.2 cm
20 x 30 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartKirlian corona on my mother’s fingertip, three years before her death, Assembly Hall, Lily Dale, NY, USA, 2014Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMediums prepare to deliver messages to a crowd of summer visitors. Lily Dale Auditorium, NY, USA, 2001Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartNaomi Barbar listens for spirit messages from a “ghost box", Lily Dale, NY, USA, 2015Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartReverend Jean heals Jennifer, the Healing Temple, Lily Dale, NY, USA, 2003Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartWoman said to be overshadowed by either the spirit of her grandmother, the Voodoo priestess Marie Laveau, or her own doppelgänger. Lily Dale, NY, USA, 2003Archival pigment print32 x 48 cm
12 5/8 x 18 7/8 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartChris Howarth’s traveling medium’s cabinet set-up, everend Jane’s basement, Erie, PA, USA, 2014Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartKai Muegge’s medium’s cabinet, with Lakota prayer ties, Tiomimé, Cassadaga, NY, USA, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Mychael Shane produces gemstone apports from his mouth and eyes while being held by his assistant, Cynthia Singer, and host, Dr Neal Rzepkowski,Tiomimé, NY, USA, 2016Archival pigment print76.2 x 50.8 cm
30 x 20 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartStansted Hall, Arthur Findlay College for the advancement of spiritualism and psychic science, Essex, UK, 2003Archival pigment print12 x 18 cm
4 3/4 x 7 1/8 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMoved pillow, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2012Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartOutside Room 215, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2012Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Gordon Garforth attempts to display ectoplasmic masks, Science Meets Spirit Week, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Gordon Garforth attempts to display ectoplasmic masks, Science Meets Spirit Week. Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Gordon Garforth in trance. Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Gordon Garforth in trance. Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartPhotograph of a photograph of Gordon Garforth’s great-grandfather, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Sharon Harvey’s spirit team show a mask, London, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartBent spoon apport gift from medium Anders Åkesson, UK, 2013Archival pigment print18 x 12 cm
7 1/8 x 4 3/4 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartAutomatic writing experiment using a planchette, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2012Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartGlass dome exercise, inspired by the Scole Experiment, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2012Archival pigment print50.8 x 76.2 cm
20 x 30 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartLesson on how to use a medium’s cabinet, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2003Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartSpirit photography class experiment with mediums Donna Sinclair Hogan, Julie Lavender, and Susan Morris, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2018Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Lillian Stavang Gaarden sits under the Lucia N°03 hypnagogic light machine, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2012Archival pigment print76.2 x 50.8 cm
30 x 20 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Annette Rodgers participates in a direct radio voice experiment led by medium and tutor Kim Moore-Cullen, in a circle that includes other bereaved parents, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2018Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartSharon Harvey’s ectoplasm joke, Arthur Findlay, UK, 2003Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartTrance and mesmerism demonstration with Bill Nedderman, Arthur Findlay College, UK, 2003Archival pigment print20 x 30 cm
7 7/8 x 11 3/4 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartInstrumental transcommunication and smoke-scrying experiment outside the séance room, UK, 2013Archival pigment print76.2 x 50.8 cm
30 x 20 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartInstrumental transcommunication experiment —Sylvia Howarth using the Xbox Kinect camera for spirit communication, UK, 2018Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Sylvia Howarth’s bedroom, transformed into a camera obscura séance room, with doll, UK, 2013Archival pigment print30.5 x 45.7 cm
12 x 18 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Chris Howarth in his medium’s cabinet, before a séance begins in his living room, UK, 2013Archival pigment print121.9 x 81.3 cm
48 x 32 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Sylvia Howarth prepares to show dermatographia messages on her skin. UK, 2018Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Sylvia Howarth prepares to show dermatographia messages on her skin, UK, 2018Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Sylvia Howarth, trance dancing, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Sylvia Howarth’s trance spirit art demonstration, UK, 2013Archival pigment print50.8 x 76.2 cm
20 x 30 inEdition of 45 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartSéance trumpets with celebrity spirit guides, hand-painted by medium Sylvia Howarth, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartSharon Harvey’s medium’s cabinet, with a table honoring Gordon Higginson, London, UK, 2013Archival pigment print45.7 x 30.5 cm
18 x 12 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartJoanne Marie Timothy sits for trance observation with mediums Tom Morris and Kevin Lawrenson, Montcabirol, France, 2014Archival pigment print50.8 x 76.2 cm
20 x 30 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartApported canary, Montcabirol Center for Physical Mediumship, France, 2014Archival pigment print18 x 12 cm
7 1/8 x 4 3/4 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Kai Muegge displays ectoplasm filled with images of the dead, Basel Psi Association, Switzerland, 2018Archival pigment print76.2 x 50.8 cm
30 x 20 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Kai Muegge’s materialization of the spirit of Colonel Henry Steel Olcott, Basel Psi Association, Switzerland, 2018Archival pigment print76.2 x 50.8 cm
30 x 20 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Kevin Lawrenson gives a healing to Pauline Wilson, Montcabirol, France, 2014Archival pigment print50.8 x 76.2 cm
20 x 30 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Tom Morris in trance. Montcabirol, France, 2014Archival pigment print50.8 x 76.2 cm
20 x 30 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs -
Shannon TaggartMedium Tom Morris prepares for a séance, Montcabirol Center for Physical Mediumship, France, 2014Archival pigment print50.8 x 76.2 cm
20 x 30 inEdition of 5 plus 2 artist's proofs

