Join Jin-me Yoon and Euijung McGillis in conversation on June 14, 7 pm via Zoom. Register now

Stories from the Picture Press: Black Star Publishing Co. & The Canadian Press

September 13–December 2, 2023
Main Gallery
Curators: Paul Roth, Gaëlle Morel and Rachel Verbin
Contributors: Denise Birkhofer, Alexandra Gooding, Valérie Matteau, Grace van Vliet, D’Arcy White, Chantal Wilson

Featuring more than thirty-five stories about historic events and personalities, this exhibition explores the important role of photo agencies during the heyday of print photojournalism. Drawing from The Image Centre’s famous Black Star press photography collection as well as the archive of Canada’s national news agency, The Canadian Press, the selection spans the twentieth century—from the British movement for women’s right to vote, through the Watts riots in Los Angeles, to the Oka Crisis in Quebec. Each story illuminates a different aspect of how photojournalists have worked to document the news and distribute their photographs for publication.

Media Sponsors:

Fig. 1

Hilmar Pabel, Untitled [Youngsters protesting after the invasion of Czechoslovakia by five countries of
the Warsaw Pact (the USSR, Hungary, Bulgaria, East Germany, and Poland), Prague, Czechoslovakia], 1968,
gelatin silver print. The Black Star Collection, The Image Centre.

Fig. 2

Francis Fuerst, Untitled [Unidentified airplanes, Europe], ca. 1914, gelatin silver print. Black Star Collection, The Image Centre

Fig. 3

John Launois, Untitled [“Cheetah” nightclub, New York City, New York, United States], 1967, gelatin silver print. Black Star Collection, The Image Centre

Fig. 4

Griffith J. “Griff” Davis, Untitled [Children parading, Liberia], 1950, gelatin silver print. Black Star Collection, The Image Centre

Fig. 5

Lou Jacobs, Untitled [Watts Rebellion, Los Angeles, California, United States], 1965, gelatin silver print. Black Star Collection, The Image Centre

Fig. 6

Gene Daniels, Untitled [American performer Sammy Davis Jr. and Swedish actress May Britt, United States], 1960–1965, gelatin silver print. Black Star Collection, The Image Centre

Fig. 7

Kosti Ruohamaa, Untitled [A fishing vessel in a squall, Georges Bank, Maine, United States], 1957, gelatin silver print. Black Star Collection, The Image Centre

Fig. 8

Nancy J. Pierce, Untitled [Black voter registration campaign, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States], 1925–1927, gelatin silver print. Black Star Collection, The Image Centre