Jazzwise contributor Val Wilmer celebrates anniversaries at Bishopsgate Institute and Victoria and Albert Museum
Tuesday, April 18, 2023
The renowned photographer and jazz writer’s work will be featured in two milestone exhibitions
This summer sees the 50th anniversary of ‘Jazz Seen – The Face of Black Music’, an exhibition of photographs by Jazzwise contributor Val Wilmer, at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London in 1973. This was the Museum’s second show of work by a living photographer, and was accompanied by a series of concerts in the garden, Albert Nicholas, Steve Lacy and the Brotherhood of Breath.
The anniversary coincides with the opening of the V&A’s Photography Centre on 25 May. The inaugural exhibition, Energy: Sparks from the Collection includes one of Wilmer’s photographs from her original show, of American gospel singers Inez Andrews and Elaine Davis.
Wilmer celebrates another anniversary in May. This marks the founding of Format (1983-2003), the all-women photographic agency created by herself and Maggie Murray. It will be acknowledged on 10 May at an event at the Bishopsgate Institute, London where the Format collection is housed. The work of Format photographers will be included in major exhibitions to be held in August at Tate Modern and the Barbican.
For more info visit www.vam.ac.uk/info/photography-centre