Muhammad Ali featured in Black Star Photographic exhibit in Embassy of Canada Art Gallery May 11, 2008

Ryerson University’s exhibition 50 Years of American Photojournalism: 1939-1989 featuring the world-renowned Black Star Historical Black & White Photography Collection, is currently on display at the Canadian Embassy in Washington, D.C. The Embassy Art Gallery is open to the public Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Admission is free.

The Embassy of Canada is hosting the exhibition’s 330 images taken photographers in both the United States and abroad. Capturing moments forever etched in America’s collective memory, the images fall into three main categories: the Civil Rights Movement, war and conflict, celebrities and personalities.

The collection was donated anonymously to Ryerson University (Toronto) in 2005 from the Black Star Agency based in New York City. The Black Star Agency was founded in 1935 by Kurt Kafranski, Kurt Kornfield and Ernest Mayer. The photographers were all fleeing Hitler’s Germany, Mayer bringing with him the soul of his Berlin-based photo agency: 5,000 photographs. This is the first time the exhibit will be on display in the United States since it was donated to Ryerson University three years ago.

The exhibition runs until August 29, 2008.

Official Website: http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/washington/menu-en.asp