Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Associated Press - Monday, October 28, 2002
Johanna Kiamzon, Associated Press Writer
These are some of the varied images of Africa on view in a traveling exhibit at Grand Central Station.
The exhibit in Vanderbilt Hall, shown through Nov. 4, promotes "A Day in the Life of Africa," a collection of photographs from all 53 African countries taken on Feb. 28, 2002, by 100 photographers.
John Isaac's photo of Chad shows two covered Muslim women browsing in a stall displaying brassieres on a clothesline. One woman's red veil matches an equally vivid red bra.
The photos are reproduced, some individually, others in groups of twos or threes, on paperlike vinyl canvases that are held aloft by movable steel poles.
Each pole is topped by a national flag from an African nation. The canvases are grouped by themes of "Country and City," "Rituals and Festivals," "Marketplace," "Family and Friends," "Leisure" and "Work."
"The whole idea is to make the exhibit different," says Constantin Boym, the show's designer. "Rather than pictures in frames ... the photos become walls. The flags bring a festive character."
If the exhibit doesn't seem weighty enough - the photo posters look fragile and disposable - it, along with a large-screen video about the project, does attract the train station's commuters and visitors.
David Cohen, director of the photography book project, remarks that the "traffic is awesome in terms of the location and prestige."
Cohen adds that the book's look is very much like previous books in the "Day in the Life" series, except that most of the Africa book's photos are digital.
One nondigital photo is Frank Fournier's image of shoemakers who recycle rubber tires into shoes in the 25-acre Kejetia Market in Ghana.
"I was afraid to use digital ... and worried about the differences of light," Fournier said.
The many-layered photo depicts a shirtless man in the foreground cutting a flattened piece of tire while another man looks on. Two women pass by carrying food on their heads.
The show travels next to Atlanta, where it will be shown at the Georgia State Capitol Building, South Wing, from Jan. 15-25, 2003. It then goes to Washington, D.C., Detroit and Chicago. Admission will be free at every stop. Some of the proceeds from the book's sale will go to the A Day in the Life Africa AIDS Education, which promotes AIDS education in Africa. The book retails for $50.
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On the Net:
www.oneafricanday.com
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