Featured photo by Jerry Taliaferro
The Flint Institute of Arts (FIA) is accepting nominations of local African American men to be photographed for the 2022 exhibition Sons: Seeing the Modern African American Male, by artist Jerry Taliaferro, during his return to Flint.
Much more than a photographic study, this exhibition aims to explore perceptions and biases. Visitors will be presented with two photographs of each subject —first a black-and-white image of just a face, and then later in the exhibition a photograph in color, where the subjects are instructed to “be themselves.”
In Taliaferro’s words, “Recent events point to the urgent need for conversations about the contemporary Black American male. Any effort, however humble, to foster an understanding of this largely misunderstood and often marginalized segment of the American population is of utmost importance.”
The nomination period is from 1-30-21 to 2-28-21. The selection committee will be looking for local African American men who possess strength through their community and family service. Because every man is a son, nominations can be submitted for family, friends, volunteers or professionals who have a positive impact on individuals, help those around them in the neighborhood, create positive change or further important issues in the community.
For nomination form, click here: https://flintarts.formstack.com/forms/jt_sons.
Nominations can also be made in person at the Flint Institute of Arts (FIA), located at 1120 East Kearsley Street. For further information about FIA, including hours, click here: https://www.flintarts.org/.
2022 will also mark the 5th anniversary of Women of New Tribe. The exhibition featured black-and-white photographic portraits of women from Flint’s African American community by artist Jerry Taliaferro.
