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A new photo exhibit at the Omaha Public Library celebrates African-American leaders in Omaha.
The exhibit, which went up Tuesday, is called “Portraits in Power 2010.”
It's the result of a multicultural mentoring project between local photographer Herb Thompson and music and visual artist Luigi Waites. Waites spent 12 weeks of one-on-one training with Thompson in order to learn the basics of traditional film-based and digital photography.
The exhibit mixes black-and-white and color photos, with formal and candid portraits, by both Thompson and Waites, of about a dozen local African-American leaders from various professions.
“What I hope to do is just give some much-needed exposure for African-American leaders who are outstanding in the Omaha community, folks that are doing things that are above and beyond on a daily basis,” Thompson said Wednesday.
Portrait subjects include Waites himself, Heisman trophy winner Johnny Rodgers, award-winning retired World-Herald photographer Rudy Smith and others.
Leaders were chosen from fields such as arts, medicine, education, philanthropy, business and social services.
“I try and choose leaders from various professions,” Thompson said. “We don't go into detail in terms of what they've done, but I like to highlight different professions and show African-American individuals who are doing outstanding work in those professions.”
The photos are hanging in the Michael Phipps Gallery of the W. Dale Clark Library, 215 S. 15th St., and will remain through January 31.
A reception is planned from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Jan. 9 at the library.
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