Agenre-bendingexplorationofpoetry,photography,andhumanmigration--anotherrevelatoryvisualexpeditionfromtheNationalBookAward-winningpoetwhochangedthewayweseeart,themuseum,andtheBlackfemalefigure.-WinnerofthePEN/VoelckerAwardforPoetry“Lewispushesthelimitsoflanguageandimage,composinglinesalongsideacacheofhundredsofphotographsfoundunderherlategrandmother’sbedonlydaysbeforethehousewasslatedtoberazed.“--KevinYoung,TheNewYorkerTwenty-fiveyearsago,afterhermaternalgrandmother’sdeath,RobinCosteLewisdiscoveredastunningcollectionofphotographsinanoldsuitcaseunderherbed,filledwitheverythingfromsepiatintypestoTechnicolorPolaroids.Lewis’sfamilyhadsurvivedoneofthelargestmigrationsinhumanhistory,whensixmillionAmericansfledtheSouth,attemptingtoescapefromwhitesupremacyandwhiteterrorism.Butthesephotographsofdailytwentieth-centuryBlackliferevealedaconcealed,interiorhistory.ThepoetryLewisjoinstothesevividimagesstandsforthasaninspiringalternativetotheusualwaysweframetheoldstoriesof“race“and“migration,“placingthemwithinamuchvasterspanoftimeandhistory.Inwhatshecalls“afilmforthehands“and“anoriginmythforthefuture,“Lewisreversesourexpectationsofbothpoetryandphotography:“Blackpages,blackspace,blacktime--theBigBlackBang.“Fromglamorousoutingstograduations,birthannouncements,baseballleagues,andback-porchdelight,LewiscreatesalyricaldocumentaryaboutBlackintimacy.Insteadofcolonialnostalgia,sheoffersus“anexaltedBlackprivacy.“Whatemergesisadynamicreframingofwhatitmeanstobehumanandalive,withBlacknessatitscenter.“Iamtrying/tomakethegods/happy,“shewritesamidtheseportraitsofherancestors.“Iamtryingtomakethedead/clapandshout.“
blackspace RACE HAPPY PERFECT REALIZATION PHOTOGRAPHY
