Black Lens: African American Photographers at the Smithsonian

“Photographs can provide insight into the history and culture of an era. Three leading African American photographers—Tony Gleaton, Earlie Hudnall Jr., and Marilyn Nance— discuss their images, which are featured in the exhibition.” This exhibition is part of African American Art: Harlem Renaissance, Civil Rights Era, and Beyond. It “presents a selection of paintings, sculpture, prints, and photographs by forty-three black artists who explored the African American experience from the Harlem Renaissance through the Civil Rights era and the decades beyond, which saw tremendous social and political changes.”

“In response, these artists created an image of America that recognizes individuals and community and acknowledges the role of art in celebrating the multivalent nature of American society. The artworks in the exhibition lay out a vision of America from an African American viewpoint. These artists embrace many universal themes and also evoke specific aspects of the African American experience—the African Diaspora, jazz, and the persistent power of religion.”

“Deborah Willis, professor of photography at New York University and author of Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers, 1840 to the Present, will moderate.”

Find out more info here.