FLY BALL: Vintage Snapshots of Black Athletes by Twin-Brother Photographers, Morgan & Marvin Smith

This year’s Photoville outdoor banner exhibition—hosted at St. Nicholas Park and Jackie Robinson Park in Harlem—takes a look at the photography of Morgan and Marvin Smith.

Identical twin brothers, Morgan and Marvin Smith actively documented Harlem during the mid-20th century. Born on February 16, 1910 in Nicholasville, KY, they moved to New York City to pursue careers in photography and attended artist development classes taught by renowned sculptor, Augusta Savage. They went on to own a landmark photography studio next to the Apollo Theater on 125th Street.

Of the thousands of photographs and prints by the Smith brothers in the Schomburg Center’s collections, this exhibition highlights a brief survey of sports snapshots from the 1930s–1950s. From American Negro League baseball team players sliding into home plate to collegiate star-athlete footballers dodging tackles across the field, these photographs document a pivotal era in American sports history.

This exhibition was curated by the Schomburg Center’s Digital Curator, Kimberly Annece Henderson, and features writer and cultural critic Bradford William Davis, who shares his response to this year’s selection of sports action snapshots.

Artist Bios

Morgan and Marvin Smith

Identical twin brothers, Morgan and Marvin Smith actively documented Harlem during the mid-20th century. Born on February 16, 1910, in Nicholasville, KY, they moved to New York City to pursue careers in photography and attended artist development classes taught by renowned sculptor, Augusta Savage. They went on to own a landmark photography studio next to the Apollo Theater on 125th Street.

Organizations

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

The Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, one of The New York Public Library’s renowned research libraries, is a world-leading cultural institution devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.
Photoville

Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.

In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.

By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.

Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.

For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com