PULLMAN, Wash. The Washington State University Museum of Art concluded its Martin Luther King Jr. Day festivities Monday (Jan. 16) with the public reception of a photo-documentary exhibit featuring King followed by a lecture by internationally known photojournalist Benedict Fernandez.
The “Countdown to Eternity” exhibit consists of 78 black-and-white photographs taken by Fernandez. The presentation, which includes shots of King taken throughout the year prior to his assassination, will remain on display until Feb. 12 at the WSU Museum of Art.
The gallery’s images show King in different environments, including his office, home and church.
In a caption underneath a photograph of King, Fernandez explains that he crawled on his “hands and knees between the legs of the bodyguards” to take the picture.
Photographs taken during a 1966 Nazi rally near Chicago show signs displaying swastikas and proclaiming “stop the black riots.”
Some images focus on other civil rights movement figures such as Julian Bond, Jesse Jackson and Robert Kennedy.
Fernandez decided to photograph the protest movement after being a victim of racism while living in Harlem, New York. Fernandez said he shows his work today because the civil rights message still needs to be heard.
“If you forget the past, you will be bound to live it over and over again,” said Fernandez during his post-reception lecture.
The lecture was preceded by an awards ceremony recognizing individuals who exemplify the ideals of King. The five 2006 Dr. Martin Luther King Distinguished Service Award recipients were University of Idaho senior Derik Robinson, WSU professor Noël Sturgeon, UI associate professor Rula Awaad-Rafferty, the Gamma Alpha Omega Sorority of Idaho and the YWCA of WSU.
WSU’s ongoing celebration of King will continue tonight at the Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum with the Rainbow Dance Theater performing “One Village, Many Tribes.” The 7 p.m. event will examine many styles of dance, including West African, Hawaiian, hip hop, modern, gymnastics and others. Tickets are available at Beasley Coliseum.
