A dear friend and talented photographer, Elizabeth Young (@elizabethyoungpictures) shared images of Chinese American photographer Baldwin Lee via social media and I immediately felt a deep connection I couldn't explain.
The images came from a photographic road trip that Baldwin Lee took over 40 years ago over a 7 year span to the American southern states. His subjects were hauntingly familiar to me, ghosts of my birth place Mississippi, and his photos spoke volumes about class, gender, and education in America.
From the Howard Greenberg Gallery Press Release:
"In 1983, the photographer Baldwin Lee left his home in Knoxville, Tennessee, and set off on a road trip through the American South. He did not know what his subject would be, but during the trip, he found himself drawn to photographing Black Americans at home, at work and at play, in the street and amid nature. Over the next seven years, he made numerous road trips to the South to continue his work. He returned with images so poignant and piercing, the Museum of Modern Art in New York acquired his photographs."
Weeks later, before she hopped on yet another flight, Elizabeth and I visited the Howard Greenberg that had a small but great collection of Baldwin Lee's photographic works. Mr. Lee being a Chinese American and someone who has dealt with adversity I think he captured the essence and soul of each subject he photographed.
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See the Baldwin Lee Exhibit at the Howard Green Gallery before it ends!
Howard Greenberg Gallery
41 East 57th Street #801
NY, NY 10022
Hours
Tuesday-Friday 10am-6pm
Saturday 11am-5pm
