Gordon Parks Segregation Story
In 1956 during his time as a staff photographer at life magazine gordon parks went to alabama the heart of americas segregated south at the time to shoot what would become one of the most important and influential photo essays.
Gordon parks segregation story. Open and hidden which documented the everyday activities and rituals of one extended african american family living in the rural south under jim crow segregation. The gordon parks foundation permanently preserves the work of gordon parks makes it available to the public through exhibitions books and electronic media and supports artistic and educational activities that advance what gordon described as the common search for a better life and a better world the foundation is a division of the meserve kunhardt foundation. Gordon parks was born into poverty and segregation in fort scott kansas in 1912.
In 2011 five years after parks death the gordon parks foundation discovered more than 70 color transparencies at the bottom of an old storage bin marked segregation series that are now published for the first time in segregation story more. The exhibition will open on january 8 and will be on view until january 31 with an opening reception on january 8 between 6 and 8 pm. The nicholas metivier gallery is pleased to present segregation story an exhibition of colour photographs by gordon parks.
In september 1956 life magazine published a photo essay by gordon parks entitled the restraints. In 2011 five years after parkss death the gordon parks foundation discovered more than seventy color transparencies at the bottom of an old storage bin marked segregation series that are now published for the first time in the segregation story. An itinerant labourer he worked as a brothel pianist and railcar porter among other jobs before buying a camera at a pawnshop and teaching himself photography.