Store Front Churches, Buffalo 1958 - 1961

Editor: Here we have Milton Rogovin's black and white photograph, "Store Front Churches, Buffalo" taken between 1958 and 1961. It strikes me with a feeling of raw emotion; the woman's pose is so expressive. What do you see in this piece, and how does it resonate with you? Curator: Well, it certainly sings to something deep within me, doesn’t it? Rogovin, you see, he wasn't just snapping pictures. He was handing us a mirror, reflecting lives, communities... a fierce spirit in a hard world. What captures me isn't just the starkness of the gelatin silver print, but the light, literally and figuratively, breaking through. Do you get a sense of the era just looking at it? Editor: Absolutely. The simplicity of the setting, almost austere, speaks to the times and, maybe, to a certain resilience? Curator: Resilience! Yes! That’s it! Look at how she throws her head back, and those outstretched arms... there's a release, wouldn't you agree? Rogovin chose to immortalize moments like these – the real pulse of these communities. It is so striking to me because he put the work in, you know? Editor: I do. Knowing its context, this image transforms. I see beyond just a photo; it is a powerful, emotive document. Curator: Precisely! Art is such a dialogue.