Gordon Parks said, "The subject matter is so much more important than the photographer." This philosophy is especially vital today as we navigate a political landscape where civil liberties feel increasingly fragile. Dwayne Banks asserts that “Under the current federal administration, critical self-reflection is labeled as unpatriotic, perpetuating the myth of ‘American exceptionalism.’ The objective is clear: the erasure of diverse minority histories, particularly the African American experience.”

The Black Gaze is Banks' response to this flawed narrative, in which he seeks to emulate and build upon the work of the giants who have come before — Parks, Eli Reed, and Roy DeCarava — and offer an intimate and authentic visual perspective on the African American community in Champaign-Urbana. The project employs intentional visual storytelling to illuminate the diverse and layered narratives within the community, emphasizing identity, beauty, history and, of course, struggle. The work aims to challenge prevailing stereotypes, contribute to the ongoing visual legacy of African American photographers, and help define the meaning of "Blackness" within the context of a small Midwestern town in the early 21st century.

EXHIBITION RECEPTION

Thursday, April 23, 5-7pm, remarks 5:30

EXHIBITION ON VIEW

April 23 - August 9

On display in our Murphy Gallery during building hours.