Written by Meighan Ashford

Photo Edited by Kelly Woodyard

A ground-breaking exhibition honoring James Ray Francis's crucial role in creating a new narrative for black visual culture and showcasing his photographic genius is on display at the Bruce Silverstein Gallery. Titled "Waiting to be Seen: Illuminating the Photographs of Ray Francis," this exhibition explores activism and the fight for equality. The exhibition showcases an amass of thirty, never-before-seen, vintage prints from 1950-1990. Viewers are encouraged to critically examine the prints, diving deep into a thorough investigation of the layers and meanings of the images for their finely balanced compositions evoking intimacy and narrative ambiguity.

Moreover, renowned photographer James Ray Francis steps out of the past and challenges the closed-off canon of Western art history. Alongside Louis Draper, Francis was vital to the early establishment of The Kamoinge Workshop- an organization geared towards reimagining black art’s visual portrayal. Beyond a body of work or collection of images, the varied aspects of the black artistic experience transcending Western stereotypes are showcased in the exhibition.Furthermore, a vibrant garden of modern photographic expression has grown in two ways. These include Francis's seeds of reinterpretation and defiance against artistic stereotypes displayed in The Kamoinge Workshop, a collective of Black photographers formed in New York in 1963.

Francis’s cues draw from Johannes Vermeer. Here, his paintings bring the nuanced contrasts of light and shade characteristic of genre paintings from the Dutch Golden Age (1588-1672), with thoughtfully considered compositions, and a delicate interplay of light and shadow.

Contributions from the photographer go beyond what his lens displays. Doing so not only keeps readers engaged but also promotes an admiration of the medium. Notably, Francis taught photography at esteemed schools from the Pratt Institute to the Bed Stuy Neighborhood Youth Corps. He was also the editor of The Black Photographer's Annual. Instilling in a new artist generation the value of self-expression and reinterpreting old masters’ works, his directorship at the Harlem School District served as a testing ground. He would go on to dedicate most of his time to art education and serving as director of the program from 1970-74.

Open from February 1st- March 22, "Waiting to be Seen" is a potent example of Ray Francis's ongoing legacy. Ray’s legacy offers monumental effects- as it challenges us to reevaluate stereotypes of Black art and recognize the rich and multifaceted nature of their creative experience. Revealing his passion for art history and reflecting his meticulous attention to detail, inviting the viewer a chance to interpret. Francis continues, relaying moral lessons to readers. Mainly, shedding light on the significance of appreciating the voices contributing to the rich tapestry of our common visual culture. Ultimately, anyone eager to learn about photography and its value in forming our cultural landscape should check out the exhibition!