Jim Alexander (born August 7, 1935) is an American documentary photographer, photojournalist, activist and teacher best known as the "Participant Observer" and photographs of his human rights and black culture. In 1995, he was the first artist to be selected in the annual "Master Artist" program hosted by the Atlanta City Communication Office. He will then be inducted into The HistoryMakers in 2006 .
Video Jim Alexander (photographer)
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Alexander was born James Alexander on August 7, 1935, at Waldwick, New Jersey as one of 12 children to automatic mechanics David Alexander, and Frances James Alexander. He studied at Waldwick Public School and Ramsey High School. He grew up during a time where opportunities for the Blacks in America for economic progress were so few.
Maps Jim Alexander (photographer)
Careers
Beginning
In 1952, Alexander joined the US Navy at the age of 17 years. During his time at the Navy training camp in Bainbridge, MD, one event will help shape the course of his entire life; Alexander won his first camera, Kodak "Brownie Hawkeye" in a friendly dice game. Immediately putting his new camera to use, Alexander sold the photo to another sailor for fifty cents.
After he completed the training camp, he was transferred to a naval base in Charleston, S.C. to start training as a diesel engin craftsman. While in Charleston, he asked the naval photographer to see some of his work, and he began to teach him about 35mm and large format photography. After leaving the Navy in 1956, Alexander delayed photography for several years. He manages the swimming pool and detailed cars. He lives above the pool of the hall, called the boardinghouse. The rooms are rented for $ 9 a week. The room and the small bed became Alexander's home during what he called "street time."
In 1964 he moved to Ridgewood, New Jersey from Paterson where he stayed after his return and launched his professional career as a freelance photographer. Alexander completes a course for a certificate in business and management organization at Rutgers University, while he works as general manager of newspaper delivery services. He was also enrolled at the New York Institute of Photography (NYIP) and obtained a degree in commercial photography in 1968. He later became separate from the NYIP Famous Alumni
At the pinnacle of the human rights movement, Alexander began documenting anti-war and civil rights movements, and then local and national responses. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s murder in 1968. His photographs included: parades, rallies, conferences, meetings, festivals, concerts, and Black's life as a whole. He is entitled to the working body of Spirit/Martyrs/Heroes. The collection ranges from the 1960s to the present. It covers the various subjects of the civic and civil rights movement, politics, music, art, and everyday individuals who are consistent in the pursuit of equality.
On a bus trip from Ridgewood, New Jersey to New York, Alexander meets Eric Maristany. They both travel by camera, so the conversation between the two erupts. Maristany worked at a filmmaker in Ridgewood and invited Alexander to visit the studio. After visiting the studio a few days later, he met with owner Richard Bruner, and staff from Bruner Productions; filmstroke producers of civil rights and education movements. He volunteered in the studio after earning the honor of being a documentary photographer. Alexander began to become freelancing at Bruner Productions.
Music icon
Alexander is also known for his prominent Black-inspired music documents, jazz and blues. When he took pictures of various events, he realized that the show would open with a choice of music. He began to appreciate the influence of music on the African American community, and it revealed the importance of musicians. "I'm just a music lover There are many things that happened in the 50s and 60s, in New Jersey, where all the little clubs or bars in the corner have a trio or quartet playing.I really listen to music." He then decided he would include black music in his work. In 1988, Alexander curated his own exhibition entitled Blues Legacy for the first National Black Arts Festival.
He curated the Duke and Other Legends: Jazz Photographs by Jim Alexander in the same year. The exhibition features 50 classical jazz musicians who toured the 13 southern cities through grants from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Southern Arts Federation. The resilience and creativity of African American culture attracts the world whether it is through music, art or written word. Jazz is just one example of the beauty of African Americans apart from hatred and marginalization designed to break their spirits. Alexander juxtaposes the bad barrier images created by the hatred and elegant powers of those who dare to destroy them. He has spent years documenting jazz musicians such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, and Count Basie just to name a few.
Gordon Parks
Alexander met and became friends with documentary photographer Gordon Parks in 1968. The park is very influential on the direction of his photography career. "Photos can be taken to be made, or can be taken to be destroyed, and the decision is in the hands of the photographer." Alexander acknowledges how his photographs can affect the consciousness of the subject and the viewer.
Moved to dedicate ten years of his life and work to document human rights and Black experiences; He shares this intention with Parks. Parks said, "Sounds good James, but your ass will starve, no one will pay you just to run around shooting at anything that interests you." So Alexander decided to teach others the art of photography while photographing the documentary on the side. Parks approves her decision and tells him, "Sounds better." Fifty years has gone beyond having a conversation with the late Gordon Parks, and Alexander continues his documentary work.
Alexander believes that each photo contains a burrow that sends a message deep into the audience's consciousness. The photographs have the aesthetics of a participant observer. As Alexander explains, "a participant observer acknowledges the undeniable influence of his presence, while appealing for loyalty to the role of the audience." The images of Alexander helped draw attention to gross violations of human rights in the United States for decades.
Educator
Alexander has guided and taught photography at various colleges and universities such as Yale University, Emory University, Fulton County Arts Council, Spelman College, TRIO and Bound Up Programs at Clark College (better known as Clark Atlanta University), Morris Brown College, and Atlanta Metropolitan University.
In 1970, Alexander was hired as a photography consultant and instructor for the Yale University School of Art and the Architecture's Black Environmental Studies Team (B.E.S.T) and The Black Workshop. He also served as executive director of the community art organization from 1972 to 1976.
Atlanta became home to Alexander and his family in 1976 after he received a position as director of audiovisual communications for the Atlanta Office of the Federation of South Cooperatives. This is a non-profit organization established to save, protect, and expand the ownership of farmland of the Blacks in the south.
At Clark College (better known as Clark Atlanta University), Alexander served as a Photographer-in-Residence from 1984-1990. During his time at Clark Atlanta, Alexander established a mentoring program in which he assisted students working with campus newspapers, yearbooks, and various types of photography. He also documents meetings and events leading to historic ribbon cuts for AU/CC CAU merging.
The Neighborhood Arts Center (NAC) dates back to 1975, and is at the heart of Atlanta's Black Art Movement. The center was built in the image of the first African American Mayor, Maynard Jackson. In 1977, Alexander became a photographer at the residence at The NAC. He is proactive in maintaining the historical values ​​set by NAC. In 1978, Alexander documented a historic visit to NAC by Romare Bearden, a legendary artist and author, and his wife, Nanette Bearden.
As a person who strongly believes in "art for the benefit of people," Alexander founded an organization called the Freedom Art Communication Team (F.A.C.T. INC.) In 1972. F.A.C.T. is a collection of artists; musicians, visual artists, poets, media professionals, community advocates, theater group members, and mentors. By launching community art festivals, working with schools, the Police Athlete League and community development offices, they are creating a visiting artist program to serve youth and adults in the New Haven, CT area.
From 1996 to 1999, Alexander was the coordinator and instructor of a youth photography program called the "As Seen by Teens" photography and journalism program. As Seen by Teens is a summer photo photography program designed to give young students a better sense of themselves and their community. Carried out by the Nexus Contemporary Art Center, the program encourages creativity while challenging students to learn and show self-esteem, achieve goals, and gain marketable skills.
From 1998 - 2000, Alexander was the director of the Art for All and Community Events gallery. The Art of VSA Georgia (formally Arts for All) provides art education and cultural arts opportunities for disabled Georgians, or who are harmed or institutionalized.
First World Bookstore
The love of education, reading, and black culture prompted Alexander to become the founder of First World Bookstores in Atlanta, GA during 1988. The store specializes in dominated African American books, gifts, and art; which eventually expanded to five bookstores in the metropolitan area until 1994.
Jim-Alex Studio Gallery
While in New Haven, CT Alexander opened a photo studio, Jim-Alex Studio Gallery in 1971. He exhibited the works of other photographers as well as his own. The studio is a meeting place and center for artists and activists of all kinds. Community meetings are often held there, and the Connecticut Black Media Coalition was founded in his studio. Alexander joked, "Everything happens in my studio but photography."
Organization
The works of Alexander are held in the following collections:
- Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
- MARBL, Rose Emory University Library, Atlanta, GA
- Collection of Museum of Contemporary Art of Georgia (MOCA GA), Atlanta, GA
- Paul R. Jones Collection University of Alabama & amp; University of Delaware
- Collections of Atlanta University Center, Atlanta, GA
- Collection of Harvey B. Gantt Center, Atlanta, GA
- Auburn Avenue Research Library, Atlanta, GA
- Yale University, New Haven, CT
- Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport Art Collection, Atlanta, GA
- Atlanta Clark University Bracket, Atlanta, GA
- Maynard Jackson, Atlanta, GA
- Charleston Jazz Initiative Archives, Charleston, SC Ã,
- Hammonds House Museum, Atlanta, GA
- Atlanta City Art Collection, Atlanta, GA
- Fulton County Art Collections, Atlanta, GA
- Bunnie Jackson-Ransom, Atlanta, GA
- Calvin W. McLarin, MD, Atlanta, GA
- Atlanta Clark University Bracket, Atlanta, GA
- Maynard Jackson, Atlanta, GA
- Metro Atlanta Cardiology Consultants, Atlanta, GA
- Southwest Dialysis Clinic, Atlanta, GA
- William Cleveland, MD, Atlanta, GA
References
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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