Govinda Gallery

James Baldwin writing, Istanbul, Turkey, 1966. © Sedat Pakay.

These two remarkable photographs taken in the ’60s of two of America’s great writers are inspiring. Ted Russell’s photograph of Bob Dylan is featured in his upcoming exhibition in Havana at Fototeca de Cuba, Cuba’s national gallery of photography, opening March 24th. Sedat Pakay’s photo of James Baldwin is in the Academy Award-nominated film for Best Documentary Feature, I Am Not Your Negro.

Bob Dylan writing, 161 W 4th St., New York City, 1964. © Ted Russell.

Dylan and Baldwin were together in 1963 in New York City when Dylan was being presented with the Tom Paine Award at the Emergency Civil Liberties Union’s annual Bill of Rights Dinner. Here is a photo of them together at the dinner taken by Ted Russell. One of Russell’s photographs of Dylan and Baldwin is featured in the new documentary film.

James Baldwin and Bob Dylan at the Emergency Civil Liberties Union’s annual Bill of Rights Dinner, 1963. © Ted Russell.