Bill Gaskins facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bill Gaskins
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| Born | May 25, 1953 |
| Nationality | American |
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| Occupation | photographer, scholar |
| Spouse(s) | Noliwe Rooks |
Bill Gaskins (born May 25, 1953) is an American photographer and teacher. He is known for his amazing photos and his deep thinking about art. His work often looks at how hair, especially Black hair, connects to identity and culture. He also explores how people are shown in portraits.
In his book Good And Bad Hair: Photographs, Bill Gaskins explores the importance of hairstyles in African American culture. He also looks at how hair, jewelry, and personal style help people show who they are.
Contents
Life and Education
Bill Gaskins studied art at several universities. He earned his first degree, a Bachelor of Fine Arts, from the Tyler School of Art. Later, he received a Master of Arts Degree from The Ohio State University. He also earned a Master of Fine Arts Degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art.
In 2008, he was an Artist-in-Residence at the McColl Center for Art + Innovation. This means he spent time there creating art and sharing his knowledge.
Teaching and Academic Work
Bill Gaskins has taught at many well-known universities. He taught in the American Studies Program and the Department of Art at Cornell University. He also shared his knowledge at Parsons the New School. He taught in the Media Studies graduate program at The New School for Public Engagement.
His lessons often focus on how race and visual art connect. He especially looks at how Black people, particularly Black women, are shown in photographs. He has also led workshops to teach others about the history of photography.
Photography Projects
Bill Gaskins has shown his photographs in many art shows. His work was part of a group exhibition at the Jersey City Museum. His short film, The Meaning of Hope, was also shown at the Detroit Institute of Arts.
The Cadillac Chronicles
One of his famous photo series is called The Cadillac Chronicles. This series shows Black men with their Cadillac cars. It was inspired by a special event in Baltimore called the Cadillac Parade. Gaskins uses these photos to explore what the Cadillac car means. It can be a symbol of male strength and being part of the middle-class.
Good and Bad Hair Book
His book Good and Bad Hair was published in 1997. It features many photographs of African American hairstyles. The book was based on an art show he had in 1996 at the Robert B. Menschel Photography Gallery.
Other Exhibitions
Gaskins' work was also part of a group show called HairStories in 2003. This show was at the Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art. One of his photos, "Tireka and Tamana, Easter Sunday, Baltimore, Maryland," was highlighted. It showed two women against a city background. Critics said his photos of African-American hair shows were "the most fascinating photos of all" in the exhibition.
His photo "Tamara and Tireka" was also shown in a Smithsonian Institution exhibition. This exhibition was called Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present. It was shown in Los Angeles.
In 2017, Gaskins spent time researching "The Black Photographers Annual." This was a collection of four books published between 1973 and 1980.
Selected Essays
Bill Gaskins has also written essays about art and photography. Some of his essays include:
- "Anthony Barboza in Conversation with Bill Gaskins." This was published in a journal called Nka: Journal of Contemporary African Art in 2015.
- "Sonya Clark." This essay was published in New Art Examiner in March 1997.
- "Richard Hunt." This essay was also published in New Art Examiner in May 1997.
Exhibitions
Gaskins' photographs have been shown in many exhibitions over the years.
| Year | Title | Location | Notes |
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| 2022 | A Picture Gallery of the Soul | Katherine E. Nash Gallery, University of Minnesota | This show featured 111 photographers, including Gaskins. His prints from The Cadillac Chronicles were included. |
| 2022 | Black Mystery Month | Clifford Gallery, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY | This was a solo show for Gaskins. It featured 30 black and white photos of important figures in African American culture. |
| 2016 | Framing Beauty: Intimate Visions | The Grunwald Gallery, Indiana University | This exhibition was put together by Deborah Willis. It included photos by Gaskins and many other artists. |
| 2012 | Wounding the Black Male: Photographs from Light Work Collection | Light Work, Syracuse, NY | This show included photos by Gaskins and other photographers from the Light Work Collection. |
| 2001 | Committed to the Image: Contemporary Black Photographers | Brooklyn Museum of Art | This large exhibition featured works by 94 photographers, including Bill Gaskins. |
| 2000 | Reflections in Black: A History of Black Photographers 1840 to the Present | Smithsonian Museum, Washington, D.C. | This important exhibition was put together by Deborah Willis. |
Collections
Bill Gaskins' art is also part of important collections.
- Sprint Corporation Art Collection: This collection bought his work called Exercising Benefits (2002). It includes three sets of pictures, called triptychs, surrounded by photos of Sprint employees using the company's gym.
Images for kids
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Bill Gaskins
