Whispering, Chicago c. 1967

Editor: We’re looking at Darryl Cowherd’s gelatin-silver print, "Whispering, Chicago," created around 1967. There’s such a striking composure in the woman’s gaze, despite being surrounded by what looks like a crowd. What's your read on this piece? Curator: It’s tempting to interpret that composure through a socio-historical lens. The Black Arts Movement was burgeoning at the time. How might her seeming stoicism reflect the social climate and the demand for dignified representation of Black individuals within public spaces? The shades she wears suggest that it’s important. Editor: It makes me wonder, what was being whispered? Or what needed to be whispered versus said out loud? Curator: Exactly! What were the institutional powers at play that might require such careful communication, or perhaps necessitate a layer of protection? Look how the figures almost blend, she remains visually separate from them and this reinforces the fact that something has been suppressed or ignored or outright avoided between the figures within the image. What is your read on the placement of the camera in the space? Editor: I think Cowherd made an interesting choice to have his lens at her level. Maybe that emphasizes her agency despite the implied noise of the crowd? It keeps us in her perspective. Curator: Precisely. And where do you think this image might have lived in terms of display at the time it was made? Editor: Given the Black Arts Movement context, I imagine this was displayed at community art spaces or galleries that intentionally served black audiences in Chicago. Curator: Agreed. Thinking about its exhibition helps us to understand Cowherd's aims with it, it’s a reminder that the life of an artwork extends far beyond its creation. Editor: I’m seeing so much more nuance in this photograph now; considering its cultural context really shifts how I interpret it. Curator: Indeed. And remembering that art serves a public role helps keep its relevance in perspective.