Iris Dawn Parker
Liberal Education Department
Columbia College Chicago
Abstract
Historical Reference:
Since the inception of photography, African Americans have been pioneers in the medium. Early on these artists were aware of the camera being a powerful tool to record and create a visual legacy of African American life. Such Pioneers as: Jules Lions and Florestine Perrault Collins owned and operated studios in New Orleans . These artists began by making portraits of family members, soldiers in uniform and prominent upper middle class blacks. However, for many pioneers, photography was seen as a challenging occupation. Photography has always been a costly craft. Economics certainly played a large part in determining who could actually have portraits of their families made. During the turn of the century, along with new industries and jobs came the change in social status and wealth for several blacks in America . Many photographers produced thousands of photographs of and for an emerging black middle class. Today there are many African American photographic artists, commercial photographers as well as hobbyist that are engaged in capturing images of African peoples as visual and cultural memories. As a photographic artist, I seek to create images that explore issues of identity, family, tradition and community. (Slide presentation of personal photographic works).