Black History Exhibit Featured At State Capitol

A special exhibit to be featured at the State Capitol will showcase the work of Rogerline Johnson, a Helena photographer who captured images of African-American life in the Arkansas Delta. The exhibit celebrates Black History Month and will be on display at the Capitol beginning February 1. The exhibit features select photos from a traveling exhibition presented by the Arkansas Delta African-American Historical Society. Johnsonb`s images of otherwise ordinary scenes b lakeside baptisms, blues performances, family portraits b tell an extraordinary tale of life in the Arkansas Delta through the 1950s and 1960s. A self-taught photographer, Johnson gave up teaching to pursue a career behind the lens, opening his Helena studio in 1952. His work chronicles the lives of African-Americans, reflecting the beauty of their strength, dignity and sense of community. The black and white images document civic, economic, cultural and political events, as well as many slice-of-life moments for which he received no pay. Some of Johnsonb s most compelling images lie in his portraits, which reveal as much about the photographer as his subjects. Johnson died in 1996, but his legacy continues through the work of his wife, Ludie, and two of their seven children, Rogerline Jr. and Steve, who continue to operate the Johnson Studio in Helena. The Capitol is open to the public 7 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekends.