Left: Richard Oliver. Right: Jay Miller, descendant of Oliver. All images courtesy of Drew Gardner, shared with permission
The idea for Drew Gardner’s series Descendants emerged from a simple observation by his mother: she noticed that Gardner resembled his grandfather. Intrigued by how traits are passed down—not just as physical likeness but the elemental foundations of DNA—he began researching and documenting the lineages of historical figures. In the nearly two decades since the project started, Gardner has met and photographed relatives of notable people like Charles Dickens, Berthe Morisot, Napoleon, Geronimo, and Frederick Douglass.
A few years into the series, something increasingly bothered him: most of his subjects were white. Reflective of the historical erasure of people of color from Western history books, archives, and art collections, the subjects whose descendants Gardner tracked down were largely European and famous. But he knew there was more to the story.
In 2020, the U.K.-based photographer collaborated with Smithsonian Magazine to produce a U.S. installment of portraits, which added a layer of nuance to his work: “Ordinary people have paid an incredible price for where we are today with our democracy, with the nations we live in,” he tells Colossal. At a time when significant Black historical sites face an increased risk of loss as they’re abandoned or forgotten, capturing history on film is a powerful and effective way to preserve it.
When Gardner visited the U.S. in February of this year, he was puzzled that he noticed few indications that it was Black History Month. “I honestly wouldn’t have known, and I am quite a bit of a media beast,” Gardner says. “I don’t think I saw a single mention of Black History Month.” Observations like these only reinforce the importance of highlighting the contributions of Black people and people of color throughout history, and Gardner felt compelled to focus on both influential and little-known people whose actions have significantly shaped culture and politics.
Left: Harriet Tubman. Right: Deanne Stanford Walz, descendant of Tubman
Gardner dove into The Black Civil War Soldier by acclaimed photographer Deborah Willis, containing more than 70 images, many of which are rarely reproduced and several of which feature unnamed soldiers. Through additional research, Gardner was able to compile a list of 120 portraits in which the subjects were named. He’s found more in the meantime, now exceeding 200, yet that number is still remarkably small within the broader context of Civil War portraiture.
Genealogical researcher Ottawa Goodman collaborated with Gardner to narrow down about 25 of those portraits to begin tracing relatives, relying on the WikiTree U.S. Black Heritage Project for help. Of those 25, the pair only managed to connect with descendants of about six original sitters. Working with designers who assisted with set design, costumes, props, and styling, Gardner recreated and captured the spirit of the original photographs, from the iconic seated portrait of Harriet Tubman to the poignant image of a young drummer named David Miles Moore.
He’s sensitive to the fact that the photographs are not only treasured family heirlooms but integral and emotional elements of family heritage. Sometimes, living descendants are enthusiastic to learn more about the project and participate; other times, he doesn’t receive a response.
The American Civil War, which in many ways marked the dawn of photography, provides a deep well for Gardner’s research, revealing countless untold stories. “This is mainstream photography for, not quite the masses, but getting there. It’s one of the first wars that photography played a major part,” he says.
Find much more of the Descendants series on Gardner’s website and Instagram.
Left: Andrew Jackson Smith. Right: Kewsi Bowman, a descendant of Smith
Left: Lewis Douglass, son of Frederick Douglass. Right: Austin Morris, a descendant of Frederick Douglass
Left: David Miles Moore. Right: Neikoye Flowers, a direct descendant of Moore
Left: Louis Troutman. Right: Chris Wilson, a descendant of Troutman
Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $5 per month. The article In His Ongoing ‘Descendants’ Series, Drew Gardner Recreates Striking Portraits of Black Civil War Soldiers appeared first on Colossal.
Solan, March 26
The School of Media and Communications, Shoolini University, recently hosted a workshop on ‘Digital Photography Techniques’.
The guest speaker was Nitin Kumar Mengi, who has over 15 years of experience in academia and professional photography, and has a Punjab Lalit Kala Academy State Award (2011) to his credit.
Mengi emphasised the pivotal role of light in photography, which is key to every captivating image. “Photography is essentially drawing with light,” he said, explaining the relationship between light and photography, and the origin of the word (photo means light, graphy denotes drawing). Distinguishing between digital and mirror DSLR cameras, Mengi explained technical nuances, shedding light on factors influencing file size variations. He also talked about the importance of a camera’s processor.
Mengi urged participants to cultivate observation skills and advocated for beginning photography journeys with beginner-friendly devices.
PLAINVILLE — Snappy Seniors Photography will have a photo exhibit at Plainville Public Library and the Plainville Senior Center.
The exhibit will be on display at the library at 56 E. Main St. from April 1 through April 19. A public opening reception for the exhibit will be held on Wednesday, April 3 at 4 p.m. at the library.
A photograph of Greta Van Fleet star Josh Kiszka mid-performance has been awarded a top gong at the So.Co Image of Music Awards.
The picture by Fearghal McGlinchey, which is aligned carefully to give the appearance that the onstage fire pyrotechnics are emitting from the musician’s raised hand during his concert at Wembley in London, won the image of music “people choice” awards.
London-based McGlinchey was also named music photographer of the year at the ceremony held in central London on Tuesday.
Reflecting on his process to capture the winning photo, McGlinchey said: “I decided to watch some of their recent live performances on YouTube, to get a gist for the stage design.
“As soon as I saw their pyros go off, I thought to myself ‘I have to be in the perfect position for these later on’.
“Josh’s harmonica even looks like it could be a lighter.”
New York-based photographer Grace Prachthauser won the award show’s first young music photographer of the year prize, a new category which shines a light on emerging talent under the age of 23.
The judges were impressed by her creative entries that included live shots of US rapper Ashnikko and Eurovision stars Maneskin.
It was previously announced that Jill Furmanovsky had been awarded the legend of the year award for her long-standing career in the music industry.
Across her more than 50 years in the business, she has shot defining moments in musical history such as Oasis at Knebworth, Pink Floyd at Live 8 in 2005 as well as a host of intimate portraits of major artists including Bjork, Amy Winehouse, Sinead O’Connor and Charlie Watts.
The venue of the year award went to Paper Dress Vintage based in Hackney in London, which transforms from a clothing shop into a music venue that has hosted the likes of Arlo Parks and Sam Fender.
Mercury Prize nominated rock duo Nova Twins were selected as the must see artist of the year through a public vote while innovation of the year was awarded to the Canon EOS R50, selected by the judges for “its ability to squeeze high-end tech into an entry level camera”.
The awards were created by music storytelling platform So.Co.
Vince Bannon, So.Co chief executive and co-founder, said: “We are thrilled again to highlight and honour the great work done by music photographers throughout the year.
“As you can see from the quality of the entries, the standard just keeps getting better.”
Global Wall Art Market size was valued at USD 21.4 Bn in 2023 and Wall Art Market revenue is expected to reach USD 31.6 Bn by 2030, at a CAGR of 5.4 % over the forecast period (2024-2030).
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The aim of this report is to assess and predict the size of the Wall Art market. It offers strategic profiles of significant market participants to provide an accurate depiction of the competitive landscape within the global Wall Art market.
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In-depth understanding of the Wall Art industry was achieved through a combination of primary and secondary research methods. Various methodologies, including PESTLE, PORTER, and SWOT analysis, were employed to ensure accurate findings.
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by Type
Paintings
Prints and Posters
Photographs
Wall Sculptures
Tapestries and Textile Art
Mixed Media Art
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Canvas
Metal
Wood
Glass
Ceramic
Fabric
by Application
Residential
Commercial
Hospitality
Retail Stores
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Wall Art Market Key Players:
Wall Art Market Regional Analysis:
The report is segmented into several key countries, with market size, growth rate, import and export of Wall Art market in these countries, which covering North America, U.S., Canada, Mexico, Europe, UK, Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Rest of Europe, Asia Pacific, China, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, ASEAN Countries, Rest of APAC, South America, Brazil, and Middle East and Africa.
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Shelby Howell of Leesburg, Va., won the grand prize for a photo of a child on the beach, throwing a toy.
Southern Delaware Tourism (SDT) this week announced the winners of its 2024 Southern Delaware Photography Contest, the eighth annual contest held by the organization.
“SDT is grateful to professional photographers Pam Aquilani and Tony Pratt, who served as judges for this year’s contest,” representatives said. “Southern Delaware Tourism is also extremely grateful for the support of tourism partners who contributed contest prizes, including Coast Rehoboth Beach, Tapestry Collection by Hilton; Big Fish Restaurant Group; Kindle Restaurant; Cape Water Tours & Taxi; Delaware State Parks; Hotel Blue; Milton Theatre; Bramble & Brine at the Buttery; Atlantic Sands Hotel & Conference Center; Funland; Grotto Pizza; Block Party Hotels; East of Maui, and Dewey Beer Company.”
The winner in the Southern Delaware Holidays & Events category was Thomas Gelnett of Ocean View, for his photo of a performance at the Freeman Arts Pavilion.
Winners were chosen in three categories, and the grand-prize winner was chosen from among all eligible entries. The winners are:
• Grand prize — Shelby Howell of Leesburg, Va., for a photo of a child on the beach, throwing a toy.
• Southern Delaware Action Shots — Marion Dowling Ocean View, for her photo of a surfer.
• Southern Delaware Amusements & Boardwalk Bites — Beverly Cleaver of Ocean View, for her photo of children in a Funland car.
• Southern Delaware Holidays & Events — Thomas Gelnett of Ocean View, for his photo of a performance at the Freeman Arts Pavilion.
The winner in the Southern Delaware Amusements & Boardwalk Bites category was Beverly Cleaver of Ocean View, for her photo of children in a Funland car.
“This contest was established to celebrate Southern Delaware and to keep our destination top of mind for visitors and potential visitors year-round,” said Scott Thomas, executive director of SDT. “We received entries from all over the Mid-Atlantic and beyond. The entries clearly demonstrate the variety and richness of experiences available in Sussex County, and the incredible enjoyment people get from visiting and living here.”
