In celebration of Black History in America, The Jean Deleage Art Gallery at CASA 0101 Theater presents “Capturing Beauty: The Artwork and Photography of John Simmons.” There will be a free online virtual guided tour of his multi-layered paper collage cartographies and his black and white photography images by the two-time Emmy Award-winning cinematographer Simmons. These represent a full spectrum of life, circa 1965 – 2021.           

The exhibit can be viewed virtually anytime by visiting https://casa0101.org/?exhibits=the-artwork-and-photography-of-john-simmons.

Pieces in the exhibit are for sale. For inquiries, call CASA 0101 Theater at (323) 263-7684, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  

A Zoom webinar Q&A with Simmons, moderated by Jimmy Centeno, will be given on Sunday, Feb. 28 from 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. For details about registering and submitting questions for the Zoom webinar Q&A, visit https://tinyurl.com/1tmos3hd.

Emmanuel Deleage, executive director of CASA 0101 Theater said, “It is our distinct honor and privilege to present the extraordinary artwork and photography of John Simmons, whose cinematic lens captures the purest of moments in the most spontaneous instant. Simmons’ paper collage cartographies are mappings that zoom in and out of political and social narratives, and the harsh reality and struggles of Black American history without losing a sense of hope.”
 

Added Simmons, “I am very grateful that The Jean Deleage Art Gallery at CASA 0101 Theater has provided their space for me to exhibit a selection of my favorite vintage photos and paper collage cartographies. I started taking photos at the age of 15. In 2016, I came to realize I had hundreds of photos I had taken over the past 55 years, which were first exhibited in 1971 while I was an art student at Fisk University.      

I have been fortunate from my earliest days that my career has been mentored and shaped by many, including film directors Carlton Moss and Ousman Sembène, regarded as the father of African cinema, as well as by photographer Robert ‘Bobby’ Sengstacke, whose family owned the African American newspaper, The Chicago Daily Defender.”