Gordon Parks

CMoore · Sep 13, 2018

Certainly not a new name. He is not currently "hip".
When you investigate his career, it is rather impressive. He did a lot of different things in the world of photography. Were he alive today, he might not have been able to duplicate his success.
I have always found him to be an interesting guy.....he kind of "did it all"

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/10/...rty-the-most-savage-of-human-afflictions.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gordon_Parks

Bob Carnie · Sep 13, 2018

I have seen a few Gordon Parks shows and up here in Toronto he certainly is Hip... Metivier Gallery which is considered one of the top Canadian Gallery's represents him well. He printed really deep .

GRHazelton · Sep 13, 2018

In 2014 the High Museum here in Atlanta had a fine exhibit of original prints from a 1956 Life Magazine story by Mr Parks which he shot in the American South in the "seg" era. Mr Parks shot primarily with a Rolleiflex, the great majority of the pictures are in color, a little unusual at that time. Most of the prints are 16 x 16 or larger and display great technical skill and artistry. There are both candids and posed shots, all present a wonderful display of Mr Parks' talents as a photographer, and of the social distortions imposed by segregation laws and customs in the American South at that time. I was a teenager in the Richmond Virginia area at the time of the Life article, and Mr Parks' message resonated strongly with me. Should this exhibit come to your area don't miss it!
Here's a link: https://www.high.org/exhibition/gordon-parks/

CMoore · Sep 13, 2018

Thanks for the info -
I am not very Big/Up on museums, but i sure would enjoy this. I am half way between San Francisco and Sacramento, so i DO have access to lots of stuff.
Maybe some day.....

CMoore · Sep 13, 2018

Oh Crap.......looks i i missed this one, 10 months ago in S.F.

http://www.gordonparksfoundation.org/exhibitions/gordon-parks-legacy/selected-works?view=thumbnails

guangong · Sep 13, 2018

Man of varied interests. Used to see him and his wife at Saturday evening performances of Metropolitan Opera. Must have had the same subscription as my wife and I for several years. We were all on balcony. Respected his privacy and never spoke to him.

GRHazelton · Sep 14, 2018

guangong said:
Man of varied interests. Used to see him and his wife at Saturday evening performances of Metropolitan Opera. Must have had the same subscription as my wife and I for several years. We were all on balcony. Respected his privacy and never spoke to him.

I admire your reticence. I'd have a hard time restraining myself from greeting him. He's sort of a hero to me.

CMoore · Sep 14, 2018

.......the story of how "He" saved that kid from South America was amazing.
I believe, even the kid was accepting his own death.
Again, i should have looked this up, but i am not sure what magazine it was.....might have still been LIFE...but after the story and pictures were printed, the money came in pretty heavy. I Think the kid was saved and lived a long time.
There was just "something" about Parks that drew me to him.....he kind of put you at ease.. I guess it was a bit of everything.
His demeanor, looks, voice, his photos......he seemed like such a decent guy. Plus, he had a career ti die for.

guangong · Sep 14, 2018

GRHazelton said:
I admire your reticence. I'd have a hard time restraining myself from greeting him. He's sort of a hero to me.

There used to be a lot of watering holes in midtown Manhattan where many “ celebrities “ would hang out. These were just regular places open to everyone. When working in the vicinity I would go to the one located in a small brick building on the 6th Ave corner of Radio City. With music recording studios, television studios and news personnel at RCA there were always well known personalities in bar...opera singers, musicians, broadcasters, etc. Nobody would bother them. Because of decline of elementary politeness these people now prefer exclusive venues where they will not be bothered. Impoliteness. This was the explanation given for the demise of Toots Shores.

A senior moment: Do any of you remember the name of the bar on the southern 6 Ave corner of Rockefeller Center? Racking my brain but just can’t remember.

CMoore · Sep 14, 2018

Didn't it start with an H......Hermans. Hurleys, Howards.....something like that.?
I think Murrow and all the news Guys/Gals used to hang out there.?

guangong · Sep 14, 2018

I think it was Hurley’s. An incident that happened a little before my time but still a funny story. An orchestra was waiting for the tenor Jussie Bjorling, who was at Hurley’s. They sent Ezio Pinza out to bring him back to the recording studio. Neither one went back to record.

rorye · Sep 14, 2018

CMoore said:
Thanks for the info -
I am not very Big/Up on museums, but i sure would enjoy this. I am half way between San Francisco and Sacramento, so i DO have access to lots of stuff.
Maybe some day.....

If you're in Marin some time you may like to join me on an outing with my friend David Johnson, he was a good friend of Mr. Parks. At 93 David still hauls a 4"x5" on a tripod down Fillmore Street like he owns the place
https://www.sfgate.com/art/article/Photographer-David-Johnson-in-spotlight-4679779.php

CMoore · Sep 14, 2018

Wow...not sure if you are serious, but i would LOVE to talk to Mr. Johnson. He must have been to the El Matador and The Black Hawk...places like that.?
Pardon me for saying so, but.......I did not even realize he was still alive. I remember talking to a photographer at The Keystone Korner one night. David Johnson was his hero.
I can be in San Francisco in 1-5 hours, depending on the traffic .

rorye · Sep 15, 2018

CMoore said:
Wow...not sure if you are serious, but i would LOVE to talk to Mr. Johnson. He must have been to the El Matador and The Black Hawk...places like that.?
Pardon me for saying so, but.......I did not even realize he was still alive. I remember talking to a photographer at The Keystone Korner one night. David Johnson was his hero.
I can be in San Francisco in 1-5 hours, depending on the traffic .

Absolutely serious, just dm or call me any time, David and I hang out most weekends, he's very much alive and very accessible.

Ste_S · Sep 26, 2018

CMoore said:
When you investigate his career, it is rather impressive. He did a lot of different things in the world of photography

I bought 'I Am You' recently which I believe accompanied an exhibition, it's a great book that covers his career.
He certainly was a polymath, not just in photography but outside too.

I like his colour work best and how his fashion photography informed the work he did on segregation (and vice versa).
The Half Past Autumn doc is on youtube and worth a watch.

CMoore · Sep 26, 2018

Fabulous Info.....Thank You
.....and Thank You to APUG

Gordon Parks

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