This Black History Month, I want to highlight two recent projects in the art and cultural heritage photography realm. Amid these challenging times, my dedication to supporting African-Americans and all marginalized communities stands firm. By showcasing the invaluable contributions that you make to American society, I aim to amplify your voices through the impactful medium of art and culture. Are you or your non profit or organization made up primarily of folks of color or other marginalized communities, thinking about photography? I will happily offer a discount on my rate, just mention it in the inquiry.
Both clients are in New Jersey, the first of which is Rowan University Art Gallery and Muesum (above) where I regularly provide installation photography. “Carrying On: Black Panther Party artists continue the legacy,”curated by Colette Gaiter, features the work of Gayle Asali Dickson, Emory Douglas, Malik Edwards and Akinsanya Kambon is currently up until March 15, 2025 at the 301 High Street Gallery.
“These four artists were teenagers and young adults when the Civil Rights Act of 1964 ended legal segregation and discrimination in the United States. They grew up in the Jim Crow era, restricted by laws and practices that affected every aspect of their lives and severely limited opportunities to pursue their dreams. Through talent, perseverance, and serendipity, they became and remain artists."
The Black Panther Party and The Black Panther newspaper are the common denominators of their early artistic careers. Emory Douglas worked on the newspaper for 13 years—the others for much shorter periods. Their early illustrations and cartoons show Black people in ways that had never been seen in mainstream media or even the Black press.”
Select copies of the The Black Panther Newspaper on display at Rowan Art Gallery.
It’s great to see and recognize the work of these artist-activists and select archives from the Black Panther newspaper, especially now. After the shoot, I just kept reading and feeling inspired by the calls for racial justice and social activism considered so dangerous in their time, and the heavy weight of knowing they remain so today.
Interior view of Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, constructed in 1899.
The second project, “Black Resilience and Joy” features cultural heritage photography documenting objects from the collection of The Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, a history museum located in the Skillman section of Montgomery Township, New Jersey, United States.
The museum is located at the Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church, constructed in 1899. These objects and images of their beautiful church are part of a discovery grant to document and display under-represented objects and historical sites important to Black History in our region, as organized by PACSCL. From the PACSL site:
“Born out of the conviction that the extraordinary collections of Philadelphia area libraries deserved greater visibility and broader support, sixteen institutions came together in 1985 to create PACSCL as an informal cooperative group. Incorporated in 1993, PACSCL’s 35 member institutions work to tell the stories of Philadelphia, its institutions, and its people.”
Exterior view of Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church.
Incidentally the idyllic historic church recently served as a location for filming the new, oscar-nominated Bob Dylan biopic “A Complete Unknown.”