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Documenting the Black Experience in Small-Town Missouri
Where: Ellis Library, main lobby
When: Now until Feb. 26
Cost: Free
Dream, Hope, Change: Photographs Honoring the African American Culture and Experience
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute foyer
When: Now until mid- to late March
Cost: Free
- “Black Cop” is a photo taken by Eric Krieger for the thirty-ninth Missouri Photo Workshop in 1987 in Caruthersville. Its caption reads:
"Caruthersville police officer J.B. Goodin responds to a call." - “Running Free” is a photo taken by Bill Ray for the ninth Missouri Photo Workshop in 1957 in Hannibal. Its caption reads:
"A foot race on a Hannibal street helps pass the afternoon for three youngsters. Small-town life offered a sense of independence for children and gave parents a feeling of safety."
COLUMBIA — Two photography exhibits are currently on display at MU in honor of Black History Month.
The first exhibit, “Documenting the Black Experience in Small Town Missouri,” is a collection of 25 photographs from the Missouri Photo Workshop archive depicting life in small towns during the last 60 years. The exhibit was compiled by workshop co-directors David Rees and Jim Curley, who sought to show a balanced portrayal of black Missourians.
“It was an opportunity to recognize lives that had been hidden from mainstream America,” Rees said. “These photographs help validate those people and provide insight.”
Rees said he wanted to show a range of life experiences African-Americans have had in small towns. In order to do this, pictures were chosen that depict blacks in their environments, such as their homes, churches, schools and professional settings.
The exhibit, on display until Feb. 26, is in the main lobby of Ellis Library, marking the second exhibit by the Missouri Photo Workshop in three years at that location. For more information go to mophotoworkshop.org.
The second exhibit, “Dream, Hope, Change: Photographs Honoring the African American Culture and Experience,” examines black culture from a national standpoint. It comprises 48 images from the Picture of the Year International (POYi) archive, a yearly photography competition held at MU each spring. The images, taken from 1948 to 2008, are intended to show a cross-section of black culture and experience, said POYi director Rick Shaw. The photos depict the civil rights movement, black urban culture, black athletes and the presidential election of Barack Obama.
“Challenges in African-American communities have not been resolved, but accomplishments have been made," Shaw said. "The election of Barack Obama as the nation's first black president seemed like a good time to stop and reflect.”
Jessie King,a graduate student at the Missouri School of Journalism, put the exhibit together. The 48 photographs were selected from an archive of more than 44,000.
“I did not want redundancy,” King said.
King, who is researching exhibits for her master’s project, said “this exhibit reflects what photojournalism is supposed to do.”
“It provides immediate impact on an audience,” she said.
The “Dream, Hope, Change” exhibit can be seen in the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute foyer until mid- to late March.
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