Saturday, November 21, 2015

Timeless: Photographs by Kamoinge


Edited by Anthony Barboza  & Herb Robinson, Coedited by Vincent Alabiso, 
Foreword by Quincy Troupe


Summary
Immerse yourself in the visual stream created over the past 50 years by Kamoinge, the pioneering photographic collective.
Over 280 stunning photos are interspersed with insights and thoughts from Kamoinge's 30 members, who include many of the nation's most acclaimed photographers.

Taken in New York City, in West Africa, in Guyana, in suburban America, the photos include abstracts; daily moments of men, women, and children, together or alone; portraits of Miles Davis, Biggie Smalls, a young Ntozake Shange, and many other visionary citizens; and landscapes.

Kamoinge, a collective of African-American photographers seeking artistic equality, was founded in 1963 at the height of the American Civil Rights Movement. As a collective, the members gained entrance into venues that were previously inaccessible to blacks.
The oldest collaborative group of photographers in the nation, Kamoinge continues to photograph, as well as to mentor others, and commemorates its 50th anniversary with this compendium.


Quotes
"Photography for me is a tool to rediscover in a more profound manner things that I thought I already knew.
It’s a vehicle through which one can reveal and meditate on the beauty of “everyday suchness.”"
C. Daniel Dawson

"A photograph is a means to remember, as well as express my feelings about, the meaningful people, things, places and events that I encounter in life. Hopefully, I can record those encounters in a way that will have meaning not only for me, but for others viewing the photograph."
Gerald Cyrus


Impressions
A wonderful Time Warp through powerful pictures!

First I was interesting by the photos. While turning the pages, I've been lead through history of the 70's to nowadays. Daily life images of Black people in New York. Intense, poignant, others that was the expressions that were incredible.
Katherina, famous people, anonymous, joyful scenes, all these pictures were taking me by the hands and making me discovering a period I didn't know in a very cool and beautiful way.

There is also the landscapes, the people outside of the U.S and all the time you feel like a witness of the time through the lens of all these photographers.

Then , I went back to read Anthony Barboza words. And I've learned about the Kamoinge members and their works.
This collection is a reflection and a spiritual reminder of the men and women who picked up the camera in order to document and reflect on the beauty, style, and struggles that make black communities across the country unique! These photographers did not just pick up the camera to make a good photograph – they spent some four decades observing, documenting, photographing and interpreting life’s experiences.”

Really cool book with powerful pictures.




Source 
Arc provided by Netgalley. I received this book in exchange of a fair and honest review.




1 comment:

  1. Credit for "Keturah" is missing.
    Should be Mark Lee Blackshear.

    ReplyDelete

Blog Archive