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Two men stand on front steps of building.
Waiting, 124 W. 117th Street, New York City. Photo by Shawn Walker, 1963. Used with permission. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2025164360/

Finding Pictures: Shawn Walker – Reflections

Posted by: Melissa Lindberg

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The following is a guest post by Adam M. Silvia, Curator of Photography, Prints & Photographs Division.

Join renowned photographer Shawn Walker and curator of photography Adam Silvia next Wednesday June 18 for their Finding Pictures virtual event. Walker and Silvia will present their pre-recorded documentary interview entitled Shawn Walker: Reflections featuring images from the Shawn Walker Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress.

A founding member of the Kamoinge Workshop, a highly-esteemed collective of Black photographers in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, Walker will reflect on his youth growing up in Harlem, his journey to becoming a photographer, his experience photographing in Cuba and Guyana, and his artistry behind the camera. Walker and Silvia will take questions from attendees afterwards.

The Prints & Photographs Division is also pleased to announce the publication of the Shawn Walker Photograph Collection finding aid, which describes the estimated 70,000 photographs by Walker at the Library.

Portrait of a girl, perched outside apartment building window with a doll. Fire escape is featured prominently above her.
Girl with doll in window, New York City. Photo by Shawn Walker, circa 1960-1969. Used with permission. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2025164363/
Abstract photograph featuring streaks of light, presumably a product of movement and slow exposure in a dark space. You can make out a man holding an electric guitar at left.
Hugh Masekela, Aaron Davis Hall, City College, New York City. Photo by Shawn Walker, 1991. Used with permission. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2025164372/

Portrait of a woman wearing a straw bucket hat with eyes obscured, leaning on a tall staff.
Cuba [Woman working in field]. Photo by Shawn Walker, 1968. Used with permission. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2025164375/
Sculpture of elephant god wearing crown picture through a window with jewelry below and with reflection of photographer visible.
Invisible Man series [Reflection in window with statue]. Photo by Shawn Walker, circa 1972-1999. Used with permission. https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2025164386/
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Comments (3)

  1. Lauren Hassel says:

    I missed the Finding Pictures: Shawn Walker webinar on June 18. When might the recording be posted? Thanks for ALL you do!

    • Melissa Lindberg says:

      Thanks for asking! The recordings are usually posted online within a few weeks of the presentation. You can check this link to see recent webinar recordings, including the Shawn Walker presentation, as they go live.

  2. Paul Gottlieb says:

    Pitty that there’s not more that can be done virtually with the thumbnail photos the Library allows to be available on line. Not a whole lot of point to having tiny little photos that don’t allow anyone to see the details.

    Not everyone lives in D.C. or MD or VA!

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