Emily Lowe Gallery presents “Danny Lyon: Memories of the Southern Civil Rights Movement,” a compilation of photographs based upon Lyon’s memoir, which documents his experiences with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) from 1962 to 1964.
With this collection of black and white images, Lyon pioneered a new movement in photojournalism with his unique point of view that emphasized his own investment and connection to the subject matter.
The intimate relationship between Lyon and his subjects is most clearly illustrated in his up-close and personal portraits of African-American demonstrators as they fought for their rights.
“Demonstrations at an ‘all-white’ swimming pool in Cairo, Illinois” depicts young boys and girls standing in a line as peaceful protestors. Two girls stare directly into the camera, the older looking weary and the younger crossing her arms as if in defiance. It is through photos such as these that Lyon is able to capture not only images, but also emotions.
Lyon not only gives his viewers an intimate look into the lives of the protestors, but also provides glimpses of the officers who worked against the Civil Rights Movement.
His photograph entitled, “Clarksdale, Mississippi, police pose for a photograph as ministers from the National Council of Churches march to the local church,” shows officers making inappropriate sexual gestures and flipping off the camera. In this image Lyon expertly juxtaposes the police against images of nonviolent protesters.
Another instance in which Lyon impeccably portrays the conflict between the demonstrators and the authorities is in “Classic Nonviolent Arrest.” An African-American man remains stone-faced and limp as police carry him away from a peaceful sit-in. In this simple photograph, Lyon brilliantly conveys the resolve and resilience of his subjects in the face of adversity.
Perhaps the most powerful set of images in the exhibition are part of the series “March on Washington.” As opposed to focusing on the speakers at this momentous event, Lyon chose to turn his camera to the crowd. The silhouettes of young men, hands in the air clapping, snapping and chanting dominate the frame in one picture. Another image shows a crowd of people intently listening to the speaker on stage. Joy, fear, passion, anger and camaraderie are just a few of the emotions that Lyon is able to capture from the crowd. Lyon’s ability to make the viewer feel like they are a part of the crowd is what makes this series so impactful.
Lyon’s one of a kind perspective and deep link to his subject matter is the common thread that runs through each and every photo in the exhibit. He uses these images to say something more powerful than words ever could.
This exhibition runs through April 13 and is open Tuesday to Friday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., as well as Saturday to Sunday noon to 4 p.m. in the Emily Lowe Gallery.
This article was updated Thursday April, 20 2017 to include a photo correction that features a photo from the gallery.