News Release

San Francisco - Portraits and Visions, a national touring photography exhibition of 62 black-and-white portraits of 20th Century African American Writers taken by photographer Lynda Koolish, will be presented at the San Francisco Main Library’s Jewett Gallery, 100 Larkin Street at Grove, from March 10 through April 28, 2002. The exhibition presents the faces of acclaimed African American writers, highlights the diversity within African American literature, and celebrates the many genres it explores.

Over a period of 30 years Lynda Koolish has been photographing African American authors in their homes, at public readings, in universities, and at conferences and festivals. The portraits include authors of diverse identities – Caribbean writers who have immigrated to the United States, writers of mixed heritage, writers who proudly proclaim their African roots, playwrights, poets, novelists, critics, scholars, short story writers, oral storytellers, and memoirists.

Koolish's photographs convey a sense of clarity, warmth, and beauty. Along with each portrait she provides a short biographical essay that comprises the artistic vision of the author. The exhibition is complemented by first edition signed books, broadsides, and personal letters on loan from the collection of Lynda Koolish, a scholar of African American literature and an associate professor of English and comparative literature at San Diego State University.

Opening day programs on March 10 include a lecture/slide show presentation by Lynda Koolish from 2:00 to 3:30pm in the Koret Auditorium of the Main Library; followed by a reception and author signing of the accompanying book, African American Writers: Portraits and Visions (University Press of Mississippi), from 3:30 to 4:30pm in the Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room.

Additional events related to the exhibition will be held during March and April of 2002 in the Main Library, 100 Larkin Street at Grove.
They include:

Photographer/Author Lecture and Slide Show with Lynda Koolish
Sunday March 10 from 2:00 -3:30pm, Koret Auditorium

Opening Reception &&Book Signing with Lynda Koolish
Sunday March 10 from 3:30 - 4:30pm Latino/Hispanic Community Meeting Room

Accompanying Satellite Exhibit of 19th Century African American Writers
March 10 – April 28, 2002 African American Center, Main Library, 3rd floor

21st Century African American Writers Series (at the Main Library)
Three Wednesdays at 6:00pm, Koret Auditorium, Main Library, Lower Level

All programs and exhibits at the Library are free of charge and open to the public.

The exhibition is sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library and its African American Center. Support was provided by the Friends & Foundation of the San Francisco Public Library.

The exhibition is open during regular Library hours: Sunday 12-5; Monday 10-6; Tuesday through Thursday 9-8; Friday 12 noon-6; and Saturday 10-6.

For more information, please call (415) 557-4277.