Emmy-winning cinematographer and photographer John Simmons has spent six decades documenting Black life in America — starting at 15, shooting for the Chicago Defender. Now, a selection of that work is on view at Mason Fine Art in Atlanta, in a solo exhibition called “It Started in the 60s,” running through July 25. 

WABE's Sherri Daye Scott sat down with Simmons at the gallery to talk about the work on the walls and the stories behind them.  

Emmy-winning cinematographer and photographer John Simmons has spent six decades documenting Black life in America &mdash; starting at 15, shooting for the&nbsp;<a href="https://chicagodefender.com/">Chicago Defender</a>. Now, a selection of that work is on view at Mason Fine Art in Atlanta, in a solo exhibition called &ldquo;It Started in the 60s,&rdquo; running through July 25.&nbsp;
WABE's Sherri Daye Scott sat down with Simmons at the gallery to talk about the work on the walls and the stories behind them.&nbsp;&nbsp;

WABE Arts features stories of art and culture in Atlanta.

WABE Arts features stories of art and culture in Atlanta.

WABE Arts

Each week, WABE Arts features stories of art and culture in Atlanta.

Each week, WABE Arts features stories of&nbsp;art and culture in Atlanta.

John Simmons photography exhibit wraps at Mason Fine Art 

🎧 Atlanta photographer Kendrick Brinson spent more than 16 years photographing Sun City, Arizona, a retirement community where great-grandmothers march in sequins. Her photobook, “Sun City: A Love Letter to the Golden Years,” is out now from Artisan. Brinson tells WABE’s Sherri Daye Scott how a movie scene led her to Sun City and explains why she chose not to show the illness and loneliness often tied to aging, and why her advice is to play more.

🎧 Atlanta photographer Kendrick Brinson spent more than 16 years photographing Sun City, Arizona, a retirement community where great-grandmothers march in sequins. Her photobook, &ldquo;Sun City: A Love Letter to the Golden Years,&rdquo; is out now from Artisan. Brinson tells WABE&rsquo;s Sherri Daye Scott how a movie scene led her to Sun City and explains why she chose not to show the illness and loneliness often tied to aging, and why her advice is to play more.

Atlanta photographer Kendrick Brinson on “Sun City,” her photobook on Arizona retirees, ahead of her Oct. 16 release party at Press Shop.

‘Play more’: Kendrick Brinson on ‘Sun City’

🎧 Monti Carlo, senior editor of food and dining at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will emcee cooking demonstrations at Taste of Atlanta's Grand Tasting Midtown on Oct. 15 at the Epicurean Atlanta hotel. Carlo tells WABE's Sherri Daye Scott what she expects from her first Grand Tasting, and why she still hasn't picked a recipe to demo. She talks about her cookbook, "Spanglish: Recipes & Stories," the "MasterChef" run she says changed her life, and growing up on a dairy farm in Puerto Rico, eating bacalaítos from a nearby fishing village. She also shares what she loves about Atlanta's food scene, from Lazy Betty to So. Fox. 

🎧 Monti Carlo, senior editor of food and dining at The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, will emcee cooking demonstrations at Taste of Atlanta's Grand Tasting Midtown on Oct. 15 at the Epicurean Atlanta hotel. Carlo tells WABE's Sherri Daye Scott what she expects from her first Grand Tasting, and why she still hasn't picked a recipe to demo. She talks about her cookbook, "Spanglish: Recipes &amp; Stories," the "MasterChef" run she says changed her life, and growing up on a dairy farm in Puerto Rico, eating bacala&iacute;tos from a nearby fishing village. She also shares what she loves about Atlanta's food scene, from Lazy Betty to So. Fox.&nbsp;

'I'm Spanglish': Monti Carlo on her cookbook and Atlanta

🎧 Former CNN anchor Don Lemon brings the DL + DL "Anything Goes" tour with comedian D.L. Hughley to Atlanta Symphony Hall on Oct. 9. For What's Feeding You?, Lemon tells WABE's Sherri Daye Scott what sharing a stage with a comedian lets him do that the anchor desk didn't, and how he and Hughley learn from each other. He talks about the news sites and blogs he reads, and why he believes the audience has moved to social media. He also looks back on his years in Atlanta, from his Virginia-Highland home to the comfort of living in a Black city, and builds an Atlanta playlist with André 3000, Janelle Monáe and the Ohio Players.

🎧 Former CNN anchor Don Lemon brings the DL + DL "Anything Goes" tour with comedian D.L. Hughley to Atlanta Symphony Hall on Oct. 9. For What's Feeding You?, Lemon tells WABE's Sherri Daye Scott what sharing a stage with a comedian lets him do that the anchor desk didn't, and how he and Hughley learn from each other. He talks about the news sites and blogs he reads, and why he believes the audience has moved to social media. He also looks back on his years in Atlanta, from his Virginia-Highland home to the comfort of living in a Black city, and builds an Atlanta playlist with Andr&eacute; 3000, Janelle Mon&aacute;e and the Ohio Players.

John Simmons photography exhibit wraps at Mason Fine Art

In 1 playlist(s)

WABE Arts

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips