Documentary photographers Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick Calhoun speak October 19 at the Kodak Lecture Series, Ryerson University.
The Calhoun's were featured in Spike Lee's 2006 documentary film When the Levees Broke after having lost their home and their studio in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.
Toronto - The Kodak Lecture Series is pleased to announce that documentary photographers Keith Calhoun and Chandra McCormick-Calhoun will give a lecture about their work on Friday, October 19, at Ryerson University in Toronto.
Born in New Orleans in the 1950's, the Calhoun's have been chronicling the everyday life of the city's Lower Ninth Ward for more than a quarter of a century. From documenting pleasure clubs to bluesman, clockworkers to churchgoers, the Calhoun's have made their career through capturing the vibrancy and culture of the neighbourhood they grew up in.
When Hurricane Katrina swept across the Gulf Coast in August 2005, Keith and Chandra would lose both their home, and their historic storefront photography studio. In the aftermath of the storm, and after salvaging what they could of their life's work, many individuals and organizations are helping the Calhoun's to rebuild. They include Architecture for Humanity, House by House, the Preservation Resource Center of New Orleans and Shelter Architecture.
The Calhoun's have been exhibited at the Aperture gallery in New York City, the Smithsonian and the Brooklyn Museum. They will also be featured in the landmark compilation Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers, 1840 to the Present by Deborah Willis. Having been exiled from their home, they are currently living in Texas with their two children.
Friday, October 19
7:30pm - Free Admission
Ryerson University
Vari Engineering and Computing Centre
Lecture Theatre 103
245 Church Street (just north of Dundas St. at Gould St)
Lectures are webcast and archived at www.ryersonlectures.ca
