Penny Gentieu and Anna Friemoth in 1993; Penny with the album she made from photos she printed of Pierre Gentieu’s glass plate negatives, Anna Friemoth holding photo of French cousin, Auguste Pondarre, in the background is a postcard made by Auguste Pondarre showing the backyard of the ancient Gentieu homestead (one of the rooftops on the left) at 54 rue Moncade, Orthez, Basses-Pyrenees, France, the Gentieu homestead. Across from the old home is the tower in the ruins of the 13th century castle of  Gaston Fébus, Count of Foix, the Château Moncade.

Pierrepenny is named after Penny Gentieu’s great great grandfather, Pierre Gentieu (1842-1930), discovered by Penny many years into her own photography career. Pierrepenny.com explores the creative connections discovered in her family history.

She is also a part of a family of artists, beginning with her great-grandfather, a Civil War photographer. Gentieu uses this family history to highlight the relationship between memory and experience, particularly in how a visual language can traverse generations. Comparing her black-and-white snapshots with the works of her family, she portrays how genetic ties can carry a visual trace.  – The Museum of Contemporary Photography

Your “story” and memory of the book you made with your grandfather’s work will remain as one of my best examples of how the past and present connect in really meaningful, personal ways. – Ellen Rendle, Historical Society of Delaware