Kendrick Lamar at Barclays Center
Kendrick Lamar at Barclays Center in July (more by P Squared)

Kendrick Lamar & Gordon Parks exhibit on display now in Pleasantville

Kendrick Lamar‘s “ELEMENT.” video makes references to Gordon Parks‘ photography, and now an exhibit with the pieces that inspired the video are on display at the Gordon Parks Foundation in Pleasantville, NY, Pitchfork reports. The exhibit is called “Element: Gordon Parks and Kendrick Lamar,” and it’s open until February 10, 2018. Here’s more:

The Gordon Parks Foundation announced the opening of ELEMENT – a new exhibition on view at the Foundation’s exhibition space from December 1—February 10 showcasing Gordon Parks photographs that inspired rapper Kendrick Lamar’s music video ELEMENT from his album, DAMN. Lamar, known for using powerful images in his music videos, directly references and revives a number of Parks’ images that explore the lives of Black Americans, including the 1963 photo Boy With Junebug, Untitled, the 1956 photo from Parks’ “Segregation Stories” series, Ethel Sharrieff, a 1963 photo from his “The White Man’s Day Is Almost Over” photo essay about Black Muslims, as well as photos form Parks’ 1948 “Harlem Gang Leader” series.

“Gordon Parks’ work is continuing to have a great impact on young people – and particularly on artists like Kendrick who, use the power of imagery to examine issues related to social justice and race in our country,” said Peter W. Kunhardt, Jr., Executive Director of The Gordon Parks Foundation. “With ELEMENT the music video, Kendrick has helped to call attention to one of the most important artists of our time.”

Long-time friend and supporter of The Gordon Parks Foundation, Kasseem Dean (aka, Swizz Beatz) noted, “I’m so inspired that my friend Kendrick Lamar chose the iconic imagery of the legendary Gordon Parks in his video for ELEMENT. It’s a prime example of how contemporary change makers – artists, musicians, filmmakers, designers – can borrow from the greats of the past who were also working towards social change.”

If you’re headed to the exhibit from NYC, the Gordon Parks Foundation is located right next to the Pleasantville train station, which is just a 50 minute ride from Grand Central.

Revisit the “ELEMENT.” video: