On two consecutive Fridays, February 11 and 18, in recognition of Black History Month and in collaboration with Eastville Community Historical Society, the Parrish Art Museum is presenting a pair of programs on Gordon Parks, the first African American photographer to shoot for LIFE and Vogue magazines.
The February 11 program is a free screening of the HBO film “A Choice of Weapons: Inspired by Gordon Parks.”
In his extensive career, Parks shot everything from fashion to Malcolm X, Gloria Vanderbilt, and Muhammed Ali — always capturing the deep humanity of his subjects. He is best known for his iconic portraits of everyday Black Americans. These portraits became a powerful tool in advancing racial, economic, and social equality, while creating an important record of the lived experience of Blacks in the 20th century.
The film, directed by John Maggio, explores the power of Parks’ images, and the generation of young photographers, filmmakers, and activists he inspired. It follows the artist’s career from staff photographer at LIFE magazine, through the artistic development of his own work, and his evolution as a novelist and groundbreaking filmmaker.
The following Friday, February 18, a panel discussion on the photographer’s legacy will be led by Dr. Georgette Grier-Key, executive director and chief curator of the Eastville Community Historical Society, with Donnamarie Barnes, director of history and heritage at Sylvester Manor Educational Farm in Shelter Island, and Steven John Irby, co-founder and director of Street Dreams magazine, discussing Parks’ significant contributions and achievements in the field of photography and his lasting influence on a generation of practitioners. The conversation will cover Parks’ use of photography to amplify social, cultural, racial, and political issues of the day.
Both programs are in-person at the museum. The talk will also be livestreamed. The cost for the talk is $12, or free for members. Visit parrishart.org.