Kresge Auditorium was packed last night as three panelists discussed the Richard Avedon and Gordon Parks photography currently on display at the Cantor Arts Center.

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JASON CHUANG/The Stanford Daily Moderator Art History Prof. Wanda Corn, New York Times art critic Andy Grundberg and NYU Photography Prof. Deborah Willis discuss the photography of Gordon Parks and Richard Avedon in Kresge Auditorium yesterday. #gallery http://daily.stanford.org/image/full/7301
Jason Chuang

JASON CHUANG/The Stanford Daily Moderator Art History Prof. Wanda Corn, New York Times art critic Andy Grundberg and NYU Photography Prof. Deborah Willis discuss the photography of Gordon Parks and Richard Avedon in Kresge Auditorium yesterday.

Those associated with the Aurora Forum, a century-old Stanford organization that hosted the event, said they were not surprised with the high turnout and the exhibit’s popularity.

“It’s very accessible subject, and people are very interested in the history of the image in culture today,” said Art History Prof. and panel moderator Wanda Corn in an interview with The Daily.

“I’ve just spent the day at the museum and both exhibits have been rather steadily trafficked,” she added. “My guess is that these are two well-known photographers that haven’t been seen together in the Bay Area lately and in this depth, so I anticipate a lot of public audience.”

New York Times art critic Andy Grundberg and Deborah Willis, professor of photography and imaging at New York University, participated on the panel.

Corn said she hoped the panel would be “inter-generational,” but student turnout was low.

Atherton resident Linda Fenney did not think students missed much.

“I thought it was terrible,” she said after the event. “The panelists just weren’t stimulating, because they didn’t give us any information about the photographers’ messages. I didn’t learn very much, let’s put it that way.”

Art History Prof. Bryan Wolf disagreed with Fenney, however, and said he appreciated the chance to listen to the panelists compare the artists’ work.

“I think they are two extraordinary photographers, and it’s a rare opportunity to see them exhibited together and to have an expert on each photographer moderated by an art historian discuss the issues,” he said.

A collection of Avedon’s work, “In the American West,” will be on display at Cantor until May 6, while Parks’ “Bare Witness” will remain at the museum until July 1.