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Meet the author of "Hush, Somebody's Callin' My Name," a book of black-and-white portraits, Saturday at Steve's Sundry.
Don Thompson, a noted Tulsa photographer, has released a retrospective of his work from 1969-1997 to coincide with February’s Black History Month. The collection in “Hush, Somebody’s Callin’ My Name” (the title of a Negro spiritual) of 52 images is beautiful and unsettling. Perhaps you have seen his photos in their permanent display at OSU-Tulsa.
Thompson has assembled mostly portraits and some architectural gems into three categories: Greenwood, The Survivors and Main Street. They are all captured in dramatic black-and-white photography.
Thompson’s photos evoke many sensations, too many to cover in one short column, so I will concentrate on the children. The cover photo is a close-up of a young lad’s face, half of which is draped in darkness, his eyes focused upward. If there is a title or explanation, I missed it. No matter, the concept is felt. The shadowed half of his face is superimposed with the subtitle, “A Photographic Essay of Survival, Resilience and Perseverance.”
In the last section of the book, Main Street, are three images of children that are disconcerting because they exude hopelessness. The last photo of the book is of two forlorn children sitting atop the steps leading to a house that once was; behind them is sky; the caption: “Life Goes On.”
Make of it what you will. A rebirth? A life of continued oppression? What are your thoughts?
Thompson’s book signing will take place from 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Feb. 6, at Steve’s Sundry Books and Magazines, 2612 S. Harvard Ave.
