"Countdown to Eternity"

by Dana Procaccino

Exhibit

During the final year of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s life, Benedict J. Fernandez was there to capture it all. Fernandez's camera lens first became acquainted with Dr. King outside of the United Nations, where it caught him in a moment of contemplation before speaking in front of a large crowd. Fernandez then went on to photograph King and the events of the civil rights movement, with images ranging from King in his home with wife Coretta Scott King in front of a portrait of Gandhi, to King at the march against the Vietnam War, to the crowd outside the Lorraine Hotel in Memphis just after his assassination.

Forty years since the Aug. 28 March On Washington, the African American Museum in Philadelphia will display Fernandez's collection of 78 black-and-white photographs of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the exhibit "Countdown to Eternity." Whether reflecting a moment of serenity, a moment of grandeur or a moment of bereavement, Fernandez's photographs present some of the most poignant and important memories and events of the year prior to Dr. King's assassination in 1968. An internationally renowned photographer and educator, Fernandez is well-known for his images documenting American dissent and protest, and his work has been widely published and exhibited in permanent collections throughout the world. "Countdown to Eternity" has received acclaim throughout Europe and Africa and is currently touring major museums across the United States.

“Countdown to Eternity,” exhibit through Oct. 24, $4-$6, free opening reception Thu., Aug. 28, 5:30-8:30 p.m., African American Museum in Philadelphia, 701 Arch St., 215-574-0380.

-- Respond to this article in our Forums -- click to jump there