EYE CANDY

Danny Lyon’s Unflinching, Prescient Vision of America


04_Crossing Ohio River Louisville.jpg
© Danny Lyon, courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

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.
© Danny Lyon, courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

“Crossing the Ohio River, Louisville,” 1966. Vintage gelatin silver print.

2
“Arrest of Taylor Washington, Atlanta”, 1963. Vintage gelatin silver print.
© Danny Lyon, courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

“Arrest of Taylor Washington, Atlanta”, 1963. Vintage gelatin silver print.

3
“Tesca, Cartagena, Colombia,” 1966. Cibachrome, printed 2008.
© Danny Lyon, courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

“Tesca, Cartagena, Colombia,” 1966. Cibachrome, printed 2008.

4
“Haiti,” 1987. Gelatin silver prints montage.
© Danny Lyon, courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

“Haiti,” 1987. Gelatin silver prints montage.

5
“John Lennon and Danny Seymour, The Bowery, New York,” 1969. Gelatin silver print, printed later.
© Danny Lyon, courtesy Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

“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.
Image Courtesy of The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

“Occupy Oakland, City Hall, Oakland,” 2011. Archival pigment print.

7
“Occupy Demonstration on Broadway, Los Angeles,” 2011. Digital inkjet print.
Image Courtesy of The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

“Occupy Demonstration on Broadway, Los Angeles,” 2011. Digital inkjet print.

8
“Maricopa County, Arizona,” 1977. Vintage gelatin silver print.
Image Courtesy of The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

“Maricopa County, Arizona,” 1977. Vintage gelatin silver print.

9
“Weight lifters, Ramsey Unit, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.
Image Courtesy of The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

“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.
Image Courtesy of The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

“Shakedown at Ellis Unit, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.

12
“Bill Sanders, Tattoo Artist, Houston, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.
Image Courtesy of The Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco

“Bill Sanders, Tattoo Artist, Houston, Texas,” 1968. Vintage gelatin silver print.