With a total of six never before seen photographs of a young Prince on the verge of stardom taken by Minneapolis-born New York-based photographer Robert Whitman in the late 1970s, this exhibition sets out to capture images of the musical genius and pop cultural phenomenon at the onset of his musical career. In the mid-to late-1970s, Minneapolis was a cauldron bubbling with creativity in all the arts, but especially in music. The folk rock era of the early 1960s, which had spawned the young Bob Dylan, had given way to a spare and funky R&B sound. Pioneered by groups like The Suburbs, Lipps Inc, and Morris Day, no one took the sound further, or blew up bigger, than Prince.
Another young artist on the scene, photographer Robert Whitman was also beginning his career. Inevitably they met, with Whitman capturing Prince on film - just a couple of young Minneapolis artists on the verge of conquering the world. Whitman's career took off in the early 80s. From his early Minneapolis days and throughout his career Whitman's photographs have always been a testament to his talent of capturing elusive moments whether he is working in the controlled studio environment or simply walking down the street with his eyes wide open. From his vivid reportage of Cuban street life to intimate glimpses of languid embraces and gestures, his images emit a luminous movement that has become his trademark. Text from Black and White Gallery. For info on the exhibition go here.