UAMS Exhibit to Feature Work of New York Times Photographer

By todd

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LITTLE ROCK — Veteran New York Times photographer Chester Higgins Jr. will be on hand to open an exhibit of his work at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) April 20. The event will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the UAMS Donald W. Reynolds Institute on Aging and will include a lecture and book signing by Higgins starting at 6:45 p.m.


 


The free exhibit and lecture are sponsored by the ReCenter program of the Institute on Aging and The Philip Jonsson Foundation. Additional funding is provided by Regions Morgan Keegan Trust, Regions Morgan Keegan private banking, and Alltel. Call (501) 526-4791 for reservations.


 


The exhibit, titled “Elder Grace,” features photos of aging African Americans and celebrates the African-American heritage, culture and identity. It has previously appeared across the country at such museums as the Philadelphia African American Museum and the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City, Mo. Upon leaving UAMS on Sept.. 1, the exhibit will be housed permanently at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in Birmingham, Ala.


 


Higgins has been a staff photographer for The New York Times since 1975. His photographs have appeared in such publications as Art News, New York Times Sunday Magazine, Look, Life and Newsweek.


 


His work is the topic of the PBS film “An American Photographer: Chester Higgins Jr.,” and has been featured on CBS’ “Sunday Morning News,” PBS’ “The Newshour,” and ABC’s “Like it Is” and “Freedom Forum.”


 


Higgins’ photo collections are featured in several books, including one based on the “Elder Grace” exhibit.


ReCenter is a program of the Institute on Aging that offers lectures, events and educational activities for people of all ages. Topics include traditional health issues such as nutrition and exercise as well as nontraditional approaches to health care, including spirituality and mindfulness.


 


While many of ReCenter’s activities are free of charge, individuals or families may choose to join the program for additional benefits.


 


UAMS is the state’s only comprehensive academic health center, with five colleges, a graduate school, a medical center, five centers of excellence and a statewide network of regional centers. UAMS has about 2,320 students and 690 medical residents. It is one of the state’s largest public employers with almost 9,000 employees, including nearly 1,000 physicians who provide medical care to patients at UAMS, Arkansas Children’s Hospital and the VA Medical Center. UAMS and its affiliates have an economic impact in Arkansas of $4.3 billion a year.