By Ty Chandler and Sylvia Maria Gross
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kcur/local-kcur-579741.mp3
Kansas City, MO – Photographer Chester Higgins, Jr grew up in Alabama, and became a child minister at the age of 9. This early immersion in religion stayed with him for the rest of his life. For 25 years, the New York Times photographer has been documenting spirituality throughout the African diaspora. 95 of his black and white photographs are in the Changing Gallery at the American Jazz Museum until June 3rd. Some of the prints are out-takes from his book Some Time Ago and Feeling the Spirit: Searching the World for the People of Africa - that's just one of Higgins' five books of photographs. I spoke to Higgins just before the exhibits' opening last week. He told me how he first developed the concept for the show.
Chester Higgins is a photojournalist for the New York Times and has published five books of his personal work. The show "Invoking the Spirit" is on display at the Changing Gallery at the American Jazz Museum until June 3rd.