Biography - The Gordon Parks Foundation

Parkes was born in poverty and apartheid era in Kansas in 1912. When he saw the image of a migrant worker posted in a magazine, he was attracted to the photo as a young man. He purchased a camera at a pawnbroker, taught how to use it himself, did not receive specialized training, but found a job of the Farm Safety Administration Bureau (FSA). Parks soon developed a style that made him one of the most famous photographers of his age. Impact Born in Kansas in 1912, Parks was fascinated by photography as a young man and saw images of migrant workers he published in magazines, for poverty and apartheid.

He purchased a camera at a pawnbroker, taught how to use it himself, did not receive specialized training, but found a job of the Farm Safety Administration Bureau (FSA). Parkes soon developed a style that made him one of the most famous photographers of his age. Influence

I saw that cameras can eradicate poverty, combat race discrimination, and be a weapon to combat various social mistakes. I know that I must have a camera at that point.

When the Financial Services Agency was closed in 1943, Parks became a freelance photographer while balancing his passion for documenting fashion magazine work and humanitarian issues. A photographic article on his 1948 Harlem Gang leader's life won a wide reputation and became a photographer and writer of the first African American staff of Life Magazine, the world's most famous photojournalist. Things This park records the topics related to racial discrimination and poverty and continues for 20 years, photographing memorable pictures of celebrities and politicians (including Muhammad Ali, Malcolm X, Adam Clayton Powell, S) To do. Tokorika Michael). His most famous images such as Emerging Man (1952) and American Gothic (1942) capture the essence of radicalism and humanitarianism in the mid-20th century and become a symbolic image symbolizing the era of future generations . . They also support the rapidly growing civil rights movement, the park itself is a perfect advocate and documentary.

This park has expanded his style over the past 30 years and continues to work until death in 2006 and has won numerous awards, including National Art Medals in 1988 and more than 50 honorary doctorates. He was also a famous composer and writer and became the first African American to write and supervise Hollywood feature films based on his best-selling novel "Learning Tree" in 1969. Then in 1971, the performance was performed by a very successful movie shaft. However, the center of his achievement remains his photographic work, its scope, quality, and sustained national significance are reflected in the entire collection of the Gordon Park Foundation.

The Gordon Park Foundation permanently preserves the works of Gordon Park, which is open to the public through exhibitions, books and electronic media, and art and education to promote Gordon's "participation in better living and a better world" We support activities. ""

Life magazine published only 26 photos, but Parks took 200 photos of the Thorton family. They were all kept at The Gordon Parks Foundation. While discussions on oppression and racial injustices are increasing in contemporary American atmosphere, Parks' work is a permanent document on America's allegory deeply rooted issues.

The 26 photos of Parks were originally published in the article of life titled "The Restraints: Open and Hidden" in September 1956. 200 negatives were found at the bottom. Storage Box Now, the whole series was first released at Gordon Parks. Sixty years after the photographs were taken, these pictures remained relevant as ever and provided an essential background for a new ethnic war in America. They comprehensively portrayed the historical precedent of "New Jim Crow" and the controversy over Michael Brown and Eric Ghana's shootout. Even though the young generation thinks of loneliness, these pictures tell about a unique story about how it affects the real life of real people.