~PIX from the CHESTER HIGGINS Jr. opening at TEKSERVE
ART@TEKSERVE PRESENTS:
‘MY SOUL FLIES HOME TO AFRICA’ – ‘IMAGES FROM AN ONGOING JOURNEY by CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.’
this in-store exhibition of a selection of documentary photographs by Chester Higgins Jr. is up thru JUNE 13, 2012
see more info: on Mr. Higgins & the show
TEKSERVE – 119 WEST 23 ST – CHELSEA, NYC
PIX – FROM THE CHESTER HIGGINS Jr. OPENING PARTY – at TEKSERVE. SAT MAY 5, 2012
CHESTER HIGGINS Jr. with the show’s poster – outside the TEKSERVE store.
Brooklyn-based CHESTER HIGGINS Jr., a staff photographer for the NEW YORK TIMES since 1975, grew up in Alabama before and during the Civil Rights era. Since his first trip to Africa in 1971, he has returned for 6 weeks every summer, returning more than 30 times . . . to photograph the people, ancient sites, ceremonies and small town life in ETHIOPIA, MALI, SENEGAL and GHANA.
some friends stop to congratulate Chester on his show. with Chester Higgins Jr., JUANITA BROWN (in back at left) with her family, a young JAH’SUN in front, his sister MICAELA LANDELL in the (lovely) hat, and beside Mr. Higgins, their mom, CHAPELLE.
left, documentary filmmaker & media consultant ERIC V. TAIT, Jr – a long time friend of
Mr. Higgins’. with him, BILL RANDOLPH.
back in the store: CHESTER HIGGINS Jr. with DJ UNIVERSE, who was spinning (great) African beats.
many photographers, and media people attended the (super) lively & packed event.
DJ UNIVERSE PRESENTS: THE LUXURY W.H.I.T.E. PARTY – SATURDAY JUNE 2ND, 2012 @TORO LOUNGE/NYC @THE SMYTHE HOTEL (!!)
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
there are stunning, and absolutely intriguing large scale full color prints arrayed along the wall – above the store’s stock shelves, whose top most shelf display the store’s famous vintage radio collection !!
PHOTOS BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
“As a 25-year old, I didn’t know what to expect, but I knew that I was not traveling to Africa to see the animals.” – CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
note: the beer bottle – ‘cap’ headdress. (!!)
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
there are also multi images running in short loops – on the store’s display screens.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
there are also display cases throughout the store with selections of smaller black & white prints . . . which in many ways were even more astonishing for the feelings they conveyed – despite the smaller size and limited palette. the thing about Mr. Higgins’ work, is not only is it an amazing record, a ‘talking’ pictorial & archival history – but the images are meaningful – in the deepest sense.
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
Grand Mosque. Djenne, Mali. 1993.
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
Hebrew Wedding at Commandment Keepers Synagogue, Harlem. 1982
perhaps the most intriguing of the black and white photos – is the small series found in the display cases near the TEKSERVE PRO-AUDIO room. titled: ‘FINDING THE AFRICAN DIASPORA IN NYC’ – it showcases very intimate and moving portraits of the African-American Hebrew community, here in NYC.
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
Beth Shalom Synagogue, Brooklyn. 2010.
BLACK & WHITE PHOTO BY CHESTER HIGGINS Jr.
Bar Mitzvah preparations at Binah, Bronx, 2005.
‘TEKSERVIANS’: from left, SESIMA KAMARA and MAUREEN COOTER. Maureen helped produce the show, alongside curator JAN ALBERT. Sesima and Maureen are both wearing African print dresses, handmade and designed by – Sesima. (!!)
SESIMA KAMARA at the CHESTER HIGGINS JR, ‘MY SOUL FLIES HOME TO AFRICA’ opening party, an exhibit of documentary photographs – proudly presented by ART@TEKSERVE, as as in-store exhibit, which is up thru June 13, 2012.
SESIMA works in the finance dept at TEKSERVE, but apparently aspires to be a dressmaker. she picks up the material, and sometimes has her African-inspired dresses stitched, in Liberia – which she visits very often to check in with family. a nice last look at the opening party, for a show with deep spiritual roots – that also manages to sit, right on the cutting edge.
PHOTOS OF THE OPENING & INSTALLATION: NANCY SMITH