WILLIAM EARL PERRY: A RETROSPECTIVE
Trinity Cathedral: October 2005 through January 2006

On a warm Sunday afternoon in early October 2005, an expectant crowd gathered in Synod Hall at Trinity Cathedral to honor William Earl Perry and to view an exhibition of his photographs. Mr. Perry, age 93, was in good form as he greeted his public and many friends. Also present were Mr. Perry's wife of more than 50 years, Ruth Ann Woodland Perry, his daughter Dr. Ruth Perry, and granddaughters Kendall and Courtney.
     Dr. Perry first thought of choosing selections from her father's work for an exhibit, but in discussions with Ruth Councell, chair of Episcopal Church and Visual Arts NJ, the idea of an entire retrospective show dedicated to Mr. Perry's work began to take shape.
     The exhibition is significant for two reasons. The first is the quality of the work itself. And the second is its historical context. During the 1960s and 1970s when Mr. Perry was active, photographers of color were not accepted into mainstream amateur photography associations, so a group in Philadelphia formed their own: the Philadelphia Lens Guild. The Lens Guild is still active today. It gave African Americans a chance to network, to show their work, and to compete for awards. Many of the photographs in this exhibition are winners of those and other awards.
     The photographs cover a wide range of subjects as well as moods from playful to meditative to dramatic. There is a sense of serenity that pervades all. The viewer is invited in to see with the eyes of one who is curious and reverent, and who takes pure delight in form and texture, shadow and light, in the beauty and quirkiness of nature, and in the simple sacredness of the ordinary.
     The exhibition will continue through January 2006. 

A selection of images from the Perry exhibit. Click to see a larger version.
"Columns"	"Perspective"	"Rotunda"