Terrific Civil Rights-era Photojournalism at the Etherton Gallery

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Terrific Civil Rights-era Photojournalism at the Etherton Gallery

Posted By David Safier on Tue, Feb 18, 2014 at 10:00 AM

Danny Lyon ©Dektol.wordpress.com, courtesy Etherton Gallery

In my high school teaching days, I did a ten year stint as a photography/photojournalism teacher, which I enjoyed thoroughly (I love the smell of Fixer in the morning!). So going to the Etherton Gallery, 135 S. 6th Ave., is always a pleasure. The photos regularly on display in the back areas of the gallery make my knees weak — some of the greatest photos in the history of the medium, the kind of work you travel to fine museums to see. They're always worth a visit.

Through March 15, you can see a stirring exhibit in the main gallery area, "Danny Lyon: Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement." Timed, I'm sure, for Black History Month, these are photos from 1962-1964 taken by the first staff photographer for the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), a 20 year old Danny Lyon. Gripping work.

You can see a few of the photos after the break.