Gordon Parks Knihy

Focusing on new research and access to forgotten pictures, The New Tide, Early Work 1940–1950 documents the importance of these years in shaping Gordon Parks’ passionate vision. The book brings together photographs and publications made during the first and most formative decade of his 65-year career. During the 1940s Parks’ photographic ambitions grew to express a profound understanding of his social, cultural and political experiences. From the first photographs he published in Saint Paul, Minnesota, and his relationship to the Chicago Black Renaissance, to his mentorship with Roy Stryker and his breakthrough work for America’s influential picture magazines—including Ebony and Life—this book traces Parks’ rapid evolution from an accomplished, self-taught practitioner to a groundbreaking artistic and journalistic voice. Co-published with the Gordon Parks Foundation and the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D. C.

This collection presents a comprehensive overview of Gordon Parks' photography spanning five decades, documenting his legendary career as one of the most influential African-American photographers of the twentieth century. Parks skillfully combined documentary and artistic styles with a deep commitment to social justice, initially working for the Farm Security Administration and later for Life magazine. He focused on extended narrative stories addressing complex issues such as crime, poverty, segregation, and race relations, showcasing his ability to blend insight with a lyrical aesthetic. His work introduced diverse audiences to often-overlooked subjects and ideas. Parks was versatile, capturing news events, fashion, and cultural scenes worldwide. Later in life, he adopted a more personal and poetic approach, creating allusive color photographs. Born in 1912 in Fort Scott, Kansas, Parks overcame poverty and segregation, eventually becoming a self-taught photographer after buying a camera from a pawnshop. He also excelled as a film director, author, and composer, notably popularizing the Blaxploitation genre with his film Shaft. Parks received numerous accolades, including the National Medal of Arts and over fifty honorary degrees. His retrospective exhibition, “Half Past Autumn: The Art of Gordon Parks,” was held at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in 1997. Parks passed away in 2006.

Dating from 1936 to the dawn of the new millenium, this collection of images from Life magazine provides a unique record of global events during this period, featuring work from some of the most noted photographers of all time.

"Gordon Parks's spectacular rise from poverty, personal hardships, and outright racism is astounding and inspiring." --from the foreword by Wing Young Huie

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In 1948, Gordon Parks began his professional relationship with Life magazine that would last 22 years. For his first project, he proposed a series of pictures about the gang wars that were then plaguing Harlem, believing that if he could draw attention to the problem then perhaps it would be addressed through social programs or government intervention. As a result of his efforts, Parks gained the trust of one particular group of gang members and their leader, Leonard Red Jackson, and produced a series of pictures of them that are artful, emotive, poignant, touching and sometimes shocking. From this larger body of work, 21 pictures were selected for reproduction in a graphic and adventurous layout in Life magazine. At each step of the selection process--as Parks chose each shot, or as the picture editors at Life re-selected from his selection--any intended narrative was complicated by another curatorial voice. Featuring contact sheets, proof prints and the published Life article, Gordon The Making of an Argument traces this editorial process and parses out the various voices and motives behind the production of the picture essay. Co-published by The Gordon Parks Foundation and the New Orleans Museum of Art.

Photographer, writer, and composer, Gordon Parks has written a moving, true-to-life novel of growing up as a black man in this country in this century. Hailed by critics and readers alike, The Learning Tree tells the extraordinary journey of a family as they struggle to understand the world around them and leave their mark a world that is better for their having been in it.

Gordon Parks--photographer, film director, writer, composer--reflects on his own dramatic life, from his poor Kansas origins to his great triumphs in America and abroad.

Gordon Parks' journey in 1957 to capture crime in America for Life magazine resulted in a groundbreaking photo-essay that challenged prevailing stereotypes of criminality. His use of color photography provided a vivid portrayal of violence, police work, and incarceration, emphasizing the social and economic factors behind crime. By moving beyond clichéd narratives, Parks offered a nuanced perspective that highlighted the complexities of these issues. This collection features never-before-published photographs from his original work, showcasing his empathetic and candid approach to a hidden world.

Focusing on Stokely Carmichael, a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement, this work captures his journey as the chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during a transformative period. Gordon Parks provides an intimate portrayal, blending insightful writing with striking photography, showcasing Carmichael's charisma, intelligence, and humor. The essay highlights the essence of the Black Power movement, emphasizing themes of self-determination and love, while offering a deeper understanding of both the leader and the broader societal impact of his message.