For a collection of mostly decades-old photos documenting issues like racial violence and police brutality, the photographer Danny Lyon could not have chosen a better title for his new retrospective than “Message to the Future.” Up at the Whitney Museum in New York until September, the exhibition covers over 50 years of his photos, stretching up to present day with the Occupy Wall Street protests. They all remain—unfortunately—relevant to this day, and particularly his earliest works: Lyon’s images of the civil rights movement from the 60’s, for example, when he was SNCC’s first official photographer, bear a chilling resemblance to the protests around the country taking place this week. Get a look at Lyon’s honest visions of America, here.
1“Crossing the Ohio River, Louisville,” 1966. Vintage gelatin silver print.
“Crossing the Ohio River, Louisville,” 1966. Vintage gelatin silver print.
2“Arrest of Taylor Washington, Atlanta”, 1963. Vintage gelatin silver print.
“Arrest of Taylor Washington, Atlanta”, 1963. Vintage gelatin silver print.
3“Tesca, Cartagena, Colombia,” 1966. Cibachrome, printed 2008.
“Tesca, Cartagena, Colombia,” 1966. Cibachrome, printed 2008.
4“Haiti,” 1987. Gelatin silver prints montage.
“Haiti,” 1987. Gelatin silver prints montage.
5“John Lennon and Danny Seymour, The Bowery, New York,” 1969. Gelatin silver print, printed later.
“John Lennon and Danny Seymour, The Bowery, New York,” 1969. Gelatin silver print, printed later.
6“Occupy Oakland, City Hall, Oakland,” 2011. Archival pigment print.
“Occupy Oakland, City Hall, Oakland,” 2011. Archival pigment print.
7“Occupy Demonstration on Broadway, Los Angeles,” 2011. Digital inkjet print.
“Occupy Demonstration on Broadway, Los Angeles,” 2011. Digital inkjet print.
8“Maricopa County, Arizona,” 1977. Vintage gelatin silver print.
“Maricopa County, Arizona,” 1977. Vintage gelatin silver print.
9“Weight lifters, Ramsey Unit, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.
“Weight lifters, Ramsey Unit, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.
10“Leslie, Downtown Knoxville,” 1967. Vintage gelatin silver print.
“Leslie, Downtown Knoxville,” 1967. Vintage gelatin silver print.
11“Shakedown at Ellis Unit, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.
“Shakedown at Ellis Unit, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.
12“Bill Sanders, Tattoo Artist, Houston, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.
“Bill Sanders, Tattoo Artist, Houston, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.
