Ming Smith

Abstract

"A long-awaited monograph on photographer Ming Smith, whose poetic and experimental images have become icons of twentieth-century African American life. One of the greatest artist-photographers working today, Smith moved from the Midwest to New York in the 1970s and began to make images charged with startling beauty and spiritual energy. This long-awaited monograph brings together four decades of Smith's work, celebrating her trademark lyricism, distinctively blurred silhouettes, dynamic street scenes, and deep devotion to theater, music, poetry, and dance-from the "Pittsburgh Cycle" plays of August Wilson to the Afrofuturism of Sun Ra. With never-before-seen images, and a range of illuminating essays and interviews, this tribute to Smith's singular vision promises to be an enduring contribution to the history of American photography. Copublished by Aperture and Documentary Arts."-- Provided by publisher.

Contents

Foreword / Alan Govenar -- A portrait of the artist / Ming Smith in conversation with Janet Hill Talbert -- The shimmering go-between / Namwali Serpell -- A song they can't broadcast / M. Neelika Jayawardane -- Beauty is in the eye / Yxta Maya Murray -- As seen from a distance / Emmanuel Iduma -- The sound she saw / Arthur Jafa in conversation with Greg Tate -- Flash of the spirit / Ming Smith in conversation with Hans Ulrich Obrist.