The City’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will celebrate National Photography Month in May with an exhibit at its Pine Camp Cultural Arts and Community Center featuring the photographs of Louis Draper.
The exhibit, titled “Louis Draper, Master Photographer,” opens on Friday, May 10 with a public reception from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and will be on display through June 20. The exhibit highlights several of the iconic figures’ photographs including some never before seen images. The black-and-white images by Draper, a 20th century photographer who was mentored by Langston Hughes as well as other important artists, will be on display.
Draper, a highly accomplished African-American photographer was born in Richmond, Virginia and eventually moved to New York in the late 1950’s to further his education. He was a noted photographer as well as an educator. During his time, Draper photographed many celebrated individuals including jazz great Miles Davis, legendary dancer and choreographer Katherine Dunham and activist Malcolm X.
The City’s art department team, Trudy Haynes and Shaunn Casselle, are available to answer more questions about Louis Draper. “The fact that we can highlight a Richmond born artist who was nationally renowned is simply amazing," said Casselle.
Pine Camp is located at 4901 Old Brook Road. Gallery hours are Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The reception is open to the public and free to attend.
The department offers a variety of art as well as dance classes for both youth and adults at its Pine Camp Arts and Community Center. A complete list of classes is available in the department’s Program Guide at http://www.richmondgov.com/Parks/documents/ProgramGuide.pdf, or for more information call (804) 646-3674.
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