Redemption. Participants in the 1963 march on Washington, DC. Photo 1963 [printed later], Gelatin Silver Print, Edition of 15, 22 x 23 inches.
Redemption. Participants in the 1963 march on Washington, DC. Photo 1963 [printed later], Gelatin Silver Print, Edition of 15, 22 x 23 inches.
Bob Adelman
Mine Eyes Have Seen
Photographs of the struggle for civil rights
New York, NY – Westwood Gallery presents an historic exhibition of photographs representing the struggle for civil rights in the 1960’s by award winning photographer, Bob Adelman. In honor of Martin Luther King’s birthday (January 15th) and Black History Month (February) the gallery will highlight significant photos representing a time in U.S. history, 45 years ago. On exhibit will be fifty-five photographs including iconic portraits of Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Rosa Parks and images of civil and social unrest in the streets of New York, Washington D.C. and the deep South. At the time, Bob Adelman, who graduated with a law degree from Harvard, was drawn to photography with the same passion for justice and his study of philosophy. He captured moments that re-shaped modern American history. He photographed not only the marchers, riots and speeches, but also the fabric of everyday life in rural communities, ghettos and social gatherings. Adelman traveled to cities and documented achievements big and small within the black community, including successful musicians, sports figures, educators, even the first African-American sheriff elected under the Voting Rights Act in Alabama in 1979. As a photographer, Adelman has made extraordinary contributions to our visual history, considering the extent he traversed to chronicle events, photographic essays and distinct individuals. The exhibition at Westwood Gallery, NYC is the first time this work has been shown in a solo gallery exhibition in the 50 year history of the photographer.
The exhibition of silver gelatin photographs parallels the release of the book entitled, Mine Eyes Have Seen, Bearing Witness to the Struggle for Civil Rights, photographs by Bob Adelman, essays by Charles Johnson, published by LIFE Great Photographer Series / Time, Inc. Home Entertainment.
Photographs
The Dreamer Dreams. Washington DC. Photo 1963 [printed later] gelatin silver print, edition of 15. 22 x 23 inches.
About the Artist
An internationally recognized photojournalist, Bob Adelman has covered social and political issues for LIFE, The New York Times Magazine, Newsweek, TIME, Esquire, Vanity Fair, London’s Sunday Times Magazine, Paris Match and numerous other publications. He is a Guggenheim fellow and grant recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts. He began his work by volunteering his services as a photographer for the Congress of Racial Equity (CORE) and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. He has written, photographed and produced books on the arts, literature, film, photography, civil rights, social culture and politics, including Carver Country, The World of Raymond Carver, Down Home, chronicled life in rural Camden, Alabama, The Art of Roy Lichtenstein, Visions of Liberty: The Bill of Rights for All Americans, The Photobiography of Martin Luther King, Gentleman of Leisure, Ladies of the Night, Brancusi Photographs and many other published books. His artwork has been exhibited in museums internationally,
Bob Adelman is the recipient of numerous awards, such as the Guggenheim Fellowship; the National Endowment for the Arts Grant; Art Director's Club Awards New York, Washington, San Francisco; American Institute of Graphic Arts 50 Books Awards; University of Missouri School of Journalism Award. He taught photography at the International Center for Photography, The New School, School of Visual Arts. Lectured at Columbia University, Stanford University, Union College, Philadelphia College of Art, University of Minn- esota, Miami University, Ohio State University, Steamboat Falls Workshop, Boston Museum of Fine Arts. Selected museum exhibits include the Smithsonian, House, American Federation of the Arts, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, Howard Greenberg Gallery. The Boca Raton Museum of Art. His photographs are in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art, The Getty Museum, The Hallmark Collection as well as numerous private collections worldwide.
King and his wife Coretta lead the marchers on Jefferson Davis Highway to Montgomery, Alabama. Photo 1965 [printed later] gelatin silver print, edition of 15. paper size 22 x 23 inches.
Media
Truly Julie Series, New York’s Channel 11
History in Focus
Thursday, 01/17/08
Legendary photojournalist, Bob Adelman, will be at Westwood Gallery tonight to kick off his "Mine Eyes Have Seen" exhibit. The exhibit features iconic images from the Civil Rights movement, including the famous photo of Dr. King giving his "I Have a Dream" speech. Adelman will also be signing copies of his latest book, also titled, "Mine Eyes Have Seen". The exhibit will be on display for FREE from now until the end of February.
Westwood Gallery is located at 568 Broadway.
For more visit: www.westwoodgallery.com
Bob Adelman's best shot
'I hid behind a tree to keep my camera dry. Later, I gave Martin Luther King a print'
Interview by Leo Benedictus
Thursday January 3, 2008
'Beauty out of so much pain' ... Bob Adelman's photograph of civil rights protesters in 1963. Photograph: Thames & Hudson
In the spring of 1963, I hitched a ride to Birmingham, Alabama, and checked into the hotel where Martin Luther King was staying. A lot of attention was being focused on the town, and I knew something terribly important was happening. Most of the organisers of the civil rights demonstrations were still very accessible then. I actually had breakfast with King a couple of times. The organisers proposed getting high school students involved, since they were running out of demonstrators. Their parents were consulted and the consensus was that the children had the least to lose in terms of reprisals, and the most to gain in terms of future opportunities. So thousands of young people filed into Kelly Ingram Park - and were promptly arrested. They went to jail gaily, which was weird; but they filled the cells, so the police were paralysed as more people flooded into the downtown area. At some point, the police lost their temper and brought out the dogs and fire hoses.
The hoses were so powerful that people were knocked down and propelled 15 or 20ft. But instead of running away, some began to hold on to each other and stand up. I was hiding behind a tree - to protect my person and keep my camera dry. I managed to shoot several rolls with a Nikon F and a telephoto lens, even though I was appalled, frightened and very upset. I tried to find that moment when the water and the people were both readable and formed some sort of a pattern. Afterwards I went up to Doc - which is what we called Dr King - and gave him a print of the picture. He said he was startled that beauty could come out of so much pain.
Curriculum vitae
Born: Brooklyn, New York, 1930
Studied: "I studied under Alexei Brodovitch in New York. He was not a kindly, nice man, but he could really help people find their way."
Inspirations: "My great hero was Lewis Hine, a wonderful photographer, very idealistic."
High point: "Every time I take a wonderful picture I'm high for a week. Winning a Guggenheim was also a big high."
Low point: "When Dr King was killed."
Pet hate: "The old dependence on chemistry. With digital, you can just look at the camera."
Dream subject: "There are many late, great friends of mine I'd love to see again and photograph: Michael Harrington, the social critic, and Ralph Ellison, the writer, for example."
Bob Adelman's Mine Eyes Have Seen: Bearing Witness to the Struggle for Civil Rights is published by Thames and Hudson. Photographs on exhibit at Westwood Gallery, New York City.
