By Shirley Hawkins
Contributing Writer
LOS ANGELES — A collection of the works of photographer Gordon Parks is on display at Pace Gallery, 1201 S. La Brea Ave.
“We are privileged to have a history of collaborating with the Gordon Parks Foundation,” said Kimberly Jones, senior director at the Pace Gallery. “This is our most recent project together.”
Jones said 36 of Parks’ photos taken between 1942 and 1985 are featured in the exhibit that runs through Aug. 30.
Born in poverty in Fort Scott, Kansas in 1912, the youngest of 15 children, Parks was drawn to photography as a young man after seeing images of migrant workers taken by Farm Security Administration photographers in a magazine.
He bought his first camera at the age of 28, a Voigtländer Brillant, for $12.50 at a Seattle pawnshop and taught himself how to take photos.
“I saw that the camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism, against all sorts of social wrongs,” Parks once said. “I knew at that point I had to have a camera.
He was known for capturing images that depicted the lives of African Americans. He is best remembered for his iconic photos of poverty-stricken people during the 1940s, which were taken for a federal government project.
Those photos led to him being hired by Life magazine, the first African-American staff photographer for the magazine that was known for visually chronicling life in America.
Parks also worked as a freelance photographer for Glamour, Ebony and Vogue magazines. In 1970, helped found Essence magazine, and served as its editorial director for the first three years of its existence.
He interacted with many of the leading people of his era — from politicians and artists to athletes and celebrities. Some of his notable friends included Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X. Malcolm X honored Parks when he asked
him to be the godfather of his daughter, Qubilah Shabazz.
Parks could also be considered a renaissance man. He was a composer, author and filmmaker.
He directed the films “Shaft,” “Shaft’s Big Score” and the semi-autobiographical “The Learning Tree,” the first Black movie to be backed by a major studio.
Several parties are recipients of Parks’ archival record including the Gordon Parks Foundation in Pleasantville, New York, and the Gordon Parks Museum/Center in Fort Scott, Kansas.
In 1995, the Library of Congress acquired Parks’ personal collection, including papers, music, photographs, films, recordings, drawings and other products of his career. Five years later, the Library of Congress named him a living legend, one of only 26 writers and artists to receive that distinction.
The Library of Congress also holds Parks’ published and unpublished scores, and several of his films and television productions.
Two of his films, “The Learning Tree” and “Shaft,” are both permanently preserved as part of the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.
The Smithsonian Institution also has an extensive list of holdings related to Parks, particularly photos.
During his lifetime, Parks was recognized with more than 50 honorary doctorates.
He died on March 7, 2006 at the age of 93.
The Pace Gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It can be reached at 310-586-6886.
Shirley Hawkins is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers. She can be reached at metropressnews@gmail.com.
