Chadds Ford, Pa. – A Visual Tribute to Music and Culture Amidst Destruction

Photographer Frank Stewart's latest exhibition presents a striking juxtaposition of devastation and cultural richness, capturing the essence of music and its impact on society. His work, which includes haunting images reminiscent of a war-torn cemetery, aims to convey the destruction of churches and the cultural fabric that music represents. Stewart, who has a long-standing association with the Savannah Music Festival and Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, emphasizes the importance of music in his artistic journey. Stewart's connection to music runs deep, having collaborated closely with Grammy-winning musician Wynton Marsalis, whom he describes as a brother. One of the highlights of the exhibition is “Stomping the Blues,” a photograph from 1997 that features Marsalis leading his orchestra during a world tour of his Pulitzer Prize-winning work, “Blood on the Fields.” This personal connection to music is further enriched by Stewart's family background; his stepfather, Phineas Newborn Jr., was a renowned pianist who worked with jazz legends. Growing up in the “apartheid South,” Stewart draws inspiration from influential photographers like Ernest Cole and Roy DeCarava, the latter being one of his mentors at Cooper Union. Cole's impactful work, particularly “House of Bondage,” left a lasting impression on Stewart, who acknowledges the differences in their artistic approaches. He believes that photography should transcend mere abstraction, emphasizing the importance of reality in his visual storytelling. In his exhibition, Stewart seeks to blend the realities of life with the vibrancy of music, creating a narrative that honors both the struggles and the beauty of cultural expression.