Chester Higgins’ Black Pantheon – an iconic legacy

UnityFirst.com Hosts Event

By Janine Fondon,
UnityFirst.com
Black Pantheon, an exhibit of icons photographed by Chester Higgins, will end its run this week at New York’s Silverstein Gallery, but its legacy stories will live on in the hearts and minds of all who viewed the images. “I make my images to bear witness to our presence, to the real and widespread accomplishments of people of African descent – to reclaim the history and glory of Black people that have been so long denied in the public sphere,” said Chester Higgins. Co-founder and National editors of UnityFirst.com, Janine and Tom Fondon recently visited the exhibit with Our Time Press co-founder Bernice Green, and others to share their gratitude for Higgins and the icons he photographed. Anthony Edwards, one of John Henrik Clarke’s students, said, “Today’s event with Chester Higgins showed a rare look at black life and it was phenomenal. The photos themselves were an amazing display of art as well.
In tribute to Higgins, Valerie Chapman-Edwards welcomed the honor of being in his presence and hailed this visit, thanks to UnityFirst.com as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In reflection, Natatia L. Griffith noted that “Chester Higgins masterfully reveals his inner conviction to accurately convey in stills emotions, tell stories, and capture moments in time. I am forever changed.” Robin Verges said, Chester Higgins is our Griot– as an artist/photographer, beautifully capturing and preserving our images and visual history for generations to come.” Please view the following video to learn more about icons in “Black Pantheon”: https://youtu.be/fu2K_gHniT8

Note from publisher: (The Griot’s Eye*) is the title of an ongoing series of works by photojournalists associated with Our Time Press, developed and curated by Green. The series debuted at Danny Simmons’ Corridor Gallery in Brooklyn in 1999. Mr. Higgins is exclusively represented by The Silverstein Gallery in Manhattan. The Black Pantheon exhibition is on view at the Gallery through Saturday, Oct. 28.