Archy LaSalle is a Boston-based photographer and educator. In an interview published by the Houston Center for Photography, he explained the origin of WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK PEOPLE AT: IN PLAIN SIGHT, a grassroots organization that includes writers, artists and activists that was launched to address the lack of Black and brown artists in museum permanent collections.
Dedicated to his work hunting images that investigate form, LaSalle is also a long-time dedicated teacher. “I was the first non-white art teacher at Cambridge Rindge and Latin High School’s 345-year history,” he said. “I was a passionate committed photographer who happened to be Black.”
For this exhibit, LaSalle selected a wide range of significant works by six contemporary Black and brown photographers, seasoned and student, to take place in the Nye Gallery and in “plain sight.”
Craig Bailey’s portrait “Ifé” is like a still from a movie. Something ceremonial just happened or is about to. “Ifé” stands still in a chalked white circle with crossed arrow lines. With bare feet in a long white dress, she tilts her head back with eyes closed. Cymbal sized pendant earrings rest silent on her shoulders and her scarlet painted mouth is closed. Two others cut out of the full frame appear inattentive. A background with a bit of altar, lectern and painting of a bishop hint this is a sacred space. The genius of this image is that this moment implies all the others before and after yet does not reveal the mystery.
In his artist statement, Bailey tells us that he is self-taught and based in Boston’s South End. His work has been described by the LesBiGay Foundation as “Masterful as he captures critical moments in Boston’s Black and LGBTQ+ that remain hidden from view.”