On Saturday February 21st, Thomas Allen Harris delivered the final program of the Integrated Media Association – Public Media Conference held at the West Peachtree Plaza in downtown Atlanta, Georgia.
Following a screening of excerpts from the “Through A Lens Darkly: Black Photographers and the Emergence of a People” documentary and multimedia outreach project – Thomas Allen Harris reviewed photos that over a dozen Atlanta families brought to the presentation.
NBPC NMI Fellow, Maya Gilliam, scans photos for Teresa Francis of Atlanta
Before the event began, a small selection of images were carefully scanned by volunteers from the National Black Programming Consortium – New Media Institute. After the screening, Thomas Allen Harris invited several individuals, from an audience of well over 60 people, to join him on the dais and discuss why they choose to share their family photos with the group.
Kerrie Cotten Williams of the Auburn Avenue Research Library and her mother, Gwendolyn C. Walker, review their family photos with Thomas Allen Harris
Participants included Kerrie Cotten Williams – Archivist at the Auburn Avenue Research Library on African American Culture and History and her mother Gwendolyn C. Walker; Dr. Doris Derby noted Civil Rights Movement photographer and director of African-American Student Services and Programs at Georgia State University; and Atlanta photographer Susan J. Ross – who is known as the “photo-griot” in addition to numerous families from the greater Atlanta area.
Atlanta Photographer Susan J. Ross shares a few of her favorite photos with Thomas Allen Harris and the IMA audience
A diversity of people, like Cara and Michael Reese of Atlanta, brought their entire family to watch clips from Thomas Allen Harris’ documentary on African American photographers and to share images of their own. Within a lively and supportive atmosphere Harris projected selected scans of the photographs that people had brought to the event as the audience members chimed in with their comments and insights.
Dr. Doris Derby relays her experiences as a Civil Rights Movement photographer
During their time in Atlanta, Harris and the “Through A Lens Darkly” team made contact with almost two dozen local libraries, universities, media outlets, and individuals. With the resources and contacts gathered in Atlanta, the filmmakers will return to Georgia in the late spring to conduct more extension interviews and research.
Wayne Sharpe of WPBA with IMA conference organizers Mark Fuerst and Julie Drizin
Atlanta was a testing ground of sorts for the “Through A Lens Darkly” multimedia community engagement initiative. Harris and his team hope that the ‘Atlanta Experience’ will be a fruitful experiment in working with both local and national community partners to craft a multigenerational, informative, and entertaining event where people can share and learn about themselves and African American photography. Similar gatherings will be organized in cities and towns across North America in addition to online and virtual versions of the “Through A Lens Darkly” Family Photo Day.
Tina Dunkley - director & curator of Clark Atlanta University Art Galleries poses with her family photos
For more information on the “Through A Lens Darkly” documentary and multimedia outreach initiative, visit the “Through A Lens Darkly” website, Blog, and Social Networking site. http://throughalensdarkly.tv All are Welcome to participate!!
Atlanta Residents, IMA Conference Organizers, and the "Through A Lens Darkly" production team gather for a final photo before the end of the Saturday gathering
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[...] was the fourth stop of the Digital Diaspora Family Reunion Roadshow (earlier events were held in Georgia, Maryland, and Massachusetts) that will begin an extensive national tour in the near future. Look [...]