Calvin Hicks (photographer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Calvin Hicks
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| Born | March 19, 1941 Mount Carbon, West Virginia
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| Died | May 20, 2012 (aged 71) Los Angeles, California U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | West Virginia State College |
| Known for | Photography |
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Notable work
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Figure Study #3 (...), 1974 |
| Spouse(s) | Linda McCormick (m. 1965 - unknown) Joyce Elaine (m. 2006-2012) |
Calvin Robert Hicks (1941-2012) was an amazing African American photographer. He was also known for starting The Black Photographers of California. This group had its own art space called the Black Gallery in Los Angeles. Hicks was also famous for his classic portraits from the 1970s.
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Calvin Hicks' Early Life
Calvin Hicks was born in 1941 in Mount Carbon, West Virginia. His family worked in coal mining. He went to college at West Virginia State College. In 1965, he earned a degree in art education.
After college, Hicks taught art at Herbert Hoover High School. In 1968, he moved to Los Angeles with his wife and two daughters. There, he worked as a county parole officer for 40 years.
Calvin Hicks' Photography Journey
Calvin Hicks loved photography from a young age. He got his first camera, a box camera, in elementary school. In Los Angeles, he kept taking photos and painting. He also studied art at different places. These included the Inner City Cultural Center and the Los Angeles Trade-Technical College. From 1984 to 1986, he studied at the Otis Art Institute.
Hicks was part of the Bunker Hill Arts League. He showed his art there from 1980 to 1984. He worked with friends like Donald Bernard and Willie Middlebrook. Together, they opened several art spaces in Los Angeles in the 1980s. These included the Visionist Gallery. They also had a shared darkroom and studio in Inglewood.
Calvin Hicks took many different kinds of photos. He captured beautiful art photos and natural scenes. He also had long-term projects showing public places in Los Angeles. He often photographed Venice Beach and events like the Central Avenue Jazz Festival.
Today, over 2,800 of Calvin Hicks' images are kept safe. They are part of the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center. This center is in the University Library at California State University, Northridge.
The Black Gallery: A Special Place for Photographers
In 1984, Calvin Hicks noticed a problem. It was hard for Black artists to find places to show their work. So, he helped start the Black Photographers of California. This group was a nonprofit organization. It helped new and experienced African American photographers.
With this group's support, Hicks and his friends started the Black Gallery. This gallery was in Santa Barbara Plaza, which is now Marlton Square. The gallery got money from grants and donations. It helped Black photographers show their art and grow. Hicks said the Black Gallery was "the first gallery in the black community dedicated to black photography."
The Black Gallery was a place where photographers could learn and share. It offered workshops and slide sharing. It was also a meeting spot and coffee house for other events. Hicks and his co-founders were part of a growing group of Black gallery owners in Los Angeles. Others included Dale and Alonzo Davis of Brockman Gallery. They are known for running the first important gallery for Black artists.
The Black Gallery closed in 1998. Its records, including thousands of Hicks' photos, were given to the Tom & Ethel Bradley Center. This center is at California State University, Northridge.
Exhibitions Featuring Calvin Hicks' Work
Calvin Hicks' photographs were shown in many art shows. These shows took place in Los Angeles and across the country.
- Five Photographers: This show included Hicks and four other artists. It was held in Hollywood, California, on May 16, 1983.
- Olympic Pretensions: Hicks and other photographers showed their work here. It was at the Los Angeles Photography Center in August and September 1984.
- The Legacy Continues: Black Photographers: This show was at the City Hall Bridge Gallery in Los Angeles in February 1986. It featured Hicks and other photographers from the Los Angeles area.
- Roe Anne White, Calvin Hicks: Venice Visuals — People and Paradox: Hicks had a show with Roe Anne White at the Black Gallery in Los Angeles in April 1987.
- A Day in the Life of Black Los Angeles: This exhibit showed 120 photos taken on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in 1988. It was first at the Museum of African-American Art in Los Angeles. Then it moved to the Black Gallery. It also traveled to London, England, in 1990.
- Life in a Day of Black L.A.': This was a traveling exhibit that went with a book. It started in Santa Monica, California, in December 1992. Then it moved to the California African-American Museum in April 1993. After that, it went on a tour across the country.
- Contemporary African American Photography: This group show was at the Los Angeles Photography Center. It ran from January 9 to February 25, 1990.
- A special project with poet Saundra Sharp: This multimedia show was at the Barnsdall Park Gallery Theater in Los Angeles on July 11, 1991.
- Black Photographers: This group show was at the Cal State University Fine Arts Gallery in Los Angeles. It was from February 1 to 23, 1998. It featured works by Hicks and many other artists.
- Identity & Affirmation: Post-War African-American Photography: This exhibit was at California State University, Northridge. It was part of a larger art event. It ran from October 23 to December 10, 2011. Hicks' photos were shown alongside those of other famous photographers.
Calvin Hicks' Passing
Calvin Hicks passed away on May 20, 2012. He had complications from cancer. His death came just 15 days after his friend and fellow photographer, Willie Middlebrook, also passed away. Hicks wanted his family and friends to celebrate his life. He asked them to listen to "some Miles, Monk, Mozart, and a glass of wine."
