Govinda Gallery

It was fifteen years ago this year that SHOTS, a book of David Fenton’s political demonstration photographs, was published. I was introduced to Fenton by my friend, the photographer, archivist, and teacher, Lely Constantinople. Together we edited and published SHOTS (Earth Aware Editions, 2005). I organized an exhibition of Fenton’s photographs in April 2005 at Govinda Gallery to launch the book.

Fifty years later, many of the people I see in demonstrations today remind me so much of the spirit captured by David Fenton in his book SHOTS. I’m sure significant books will be published from these days, of these times.

I would often see this demonstrator at antiwar rallies up and down the East Coast. It was profoundly moving to see him quietly depict the crucifixion in the midst of very passionate demonstrations.

Allen Ginsberg was my spiritual and political mentor. He remains one of the greatest American poets of all time. He was a remarkable activist with a brilliant intellect. I chanted mantras with Ginsberg in Lafayette Park in front of the White House in the early 70s as he played his harmonium and I played a dulcimer. On another evening, I was tear-gassed while chanting by Ginsberg’s side on the street outside Lisner Auditorium as antiwar and social justice demonstrators were being confronted by the police. Chuck Berry was performing at the same moment inside the auditorium as the tear gas was shot in front of us and behind us. Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. In the chaos, people began to flee the auditorium as the tear gas was finding its way into the concert.