A Dream Begun So Long Ago: The Story of David Johnson, Ansel Adams' First African American Student

Barnes & Noble Corte Madera, CA store will host local photographer David Johnson, for a Book Talk and Signing on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at 2pm.

“David Johnson, a native of Jacksonville, Florida was the first African American student of Ansel Adams. In his 1946 classes at the California School of Fine Art, (now the San Francisco Art Institute), Johnson was advised to photograph his own neighborhood and document the faces and places with which he was most familiar. He subsequently became an important chronicler of black life in San Francisco in the middle part of the 20th century. A Dream Begun So Long Ago is the story of how one of the most significant cultural photographers came into the apex of his career. Johnson’s work is now considered fine art black and white photographs. Now in his late 80’s Johnson is considered a pioneer as a photographer in the San Francisco Fillmore community. His name is etched in concrete at the Fillmore Plaza, it states: David Johnson, photographer and photojournalist. He studied with Ansel Adams.”

“After graduating from the California School of Fine Arts (CSFA), now known as the venerable San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI), David Johnson went on to establish his own studio on Fillmore Street diligently documenting the development of the neighborhood during the 40’s, 50’s, & 60’s. David Johnson combined his professional training as a photographer and personal interest in music to visually record the heydays of the Fillmore’s clubs, dance halls and way of life. His work has been published in books such as Harlem of the West- as well as the KQED documentary The Fillmore. Another significant component of his work is his documentation of the civil rights movement in San Francisco, the NAACP registration drives, including the March on Washington.”

“Included in Johnson’s artistic vision was his desire to depict people positively in the presence of discrimination, thus capturing the emotions of the Civil Rights movement. His most published works are his images of ordinary African Americans, children and adults, going about the mundane routines, rites and rituals. He is likewise noted for photographing important African Americans. He has captured Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshal, A. Philip Randolph, ball player Jackie Robinson, poet Langston Hughes and musical icons Nat “King” Cole, Eartha Kitt, and “T. Bone” Walker. In addition to the influence of his teacher Ansel Adams, he cites his mentors Minor White & Ruth Bernhard. His work draws upon iconic photographers of the 20th century, Imogene Cunningham, Dorothea Lange, Gordon Parks, Edward Weston, and Homer Paige.”

“Now 86 years old, David Johnson still actively photographs his everyday world. He lives and works in the Bay Area.” – All biographical information quoted from www.davidsjohnsonphotography.com.

David Johnson’s appearance at Barnes & Noble Corte Madera is part of the annual Holiday Bookfair Fundraiser for The Hannah Project. Funds generated form the bookfair will go towards their many programs, which [seeks] to boost the academic performance and college graduation rates of low-income students in Marin County. From Saturday, November 29 to Sunday, December 7, 2014, Barnes & Noble will contribute a percentage of every sale made with a special Bookfair voucher to The Hannah Project. Vouchers will be available online at the Hannah Project website www.thehannahproject.org and in hard copy at their offices in Marin City. You can also shop in support of The Hannah Project by shopping online at www.bn.com/bookfairs from November 29 to December 7, 2014 and include the Bookfair voucher (ID #11448255) in the coupon space on the payment page during checkout.

Barnes & Noble Corte Madera events are free and open to the public. Barnes & Noble Corte Madera is located at 313 Corte Madera Town Center, Corte Madera, CA 94925. For more information about this or other events at Barnes & Noble Corte Madera, please contact Laurel Kidd, Community Business Development Manager, at crm2274@bn.com.

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