Sunday, November 30, 2008

Gordon Parks: MC Spotlight


Gordon Roger Alexander Buchanan Parks (November 30, 1912 – March 7, 2006) was an American photographer, musician, poet, journalist, activist and film director. This was a great man – he was a self-taught photographer, and a preservationist of African American Life. He encompassed everything I feel about art and expression. He did what came natural, and he did it from the heart. Through his fantastic words and images, he lives on.
Photo source: concreteloop.com

5 comments:

Deb Sistrunk Nelson said...

Indeed, Mr. Parks was exceptionally gifted and talented. His work as a photojournalist seemed to lead to so many other successful endeavors. He literally oozed with creativity!

Mr. Parks lived a long, fruitful life. However, I still remember feeling sad when I learned that he had passed on. Thanks for giving this American genius the spotlight.

Stephen A. Bess said...

Deb S.-
The pleasure was all mine. Thanks for the comment.

christina said...

Hey there, friend.

You know your speaking straight to my heart, with this post, right? lol

Mr. Parks was inspiring and so talented.. I still feel deeply, each time I think of his story of the Fontanelle family, from beginning to end.

The first time I saw Gordon Parks photography up close, was at an exhibit in 1998. I was blown away! I was stuck in that corner of the art museum, feet planted. I held a 5$ throw away, film camera in my hand. I fell in love with the emotion he captured, through his lens.

: )

angela said...

i agree with what you and the other commenters have said. i had the pleasure of meeting him when i was a student in atlanta (at the AUC), and he had such an impact on me. i've always been a 'photobug', and photography is probably my favorite artform for various reasons (purity is one of them).

thanks for marking this :)

Anonymous said...

Gordon Parks was the original renaissance man. He lived a life of art and upliftment that has inspired me for years. He did live a long, productive life but I'm glad that his work lives on as well.

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