When he died, local art collector and dealer John Cleary left a mass of photographs, some of which are on display at the Houston Center for Photographyย’s exhibit ย“The Kid Collection: Selected Images from John Clearyย’s Personal Collection.ย”

ย“Itย’s John Clearyย’s private [holdings],ย” says Houston Center for Photography Program Director Ebony Porter. ย“Over the years, he was collecting photographs, and one day he suddenly realized that he had an affinity for photographs of children. Most of the works in the show are vintage 20th century prints.ย”

The show features 30 photographers. From George Krauseย’s Fountainhead, a photo of a young boy standing in a stream of falling water, to Helen Levittย’s New York, a shot of three young children wearing masks, to Brassaiย’s Le Premier Ballon, a toddler getting his first balloon from a street vender, the photographs are evocative without being cute or precious. The show also includes works by Ansel Adams and Sally Mann.

ย“Itย’s sort of interesting, because at the same time weย’ve also got our fellowship exhibition, ย‘Forced Fields,ย’ happening, which is a very playful exhibition; weย’ve got Mary Magsamen and Stephan Hillerbrand projecting video onto balloons,ย” says Porter. ย“And in the third wing of the gallery we have ย‘Picture This,ย’ which is an outreach program with patients at the M.D. Anderson Childrenย’s Hospital. So itย’s kind of a kidย’s month here at HCP.ย” 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays, noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Through July 13. 1441 West Alabama. For information, call 713-529-4755 or visit www.hcponline.org. Free.

Wednesdays-Sundays. Starts: June 14. Continues through July 13, 2008

This article appears in Jun 12-18, 2008.