Stephen Daiter Gallery is currently presenting "Dawoud Bey: Syracuse 1985," an exhibition running through November 28th that highlights a transformative period in the acclaimed photographer's career. The show features work created during Bey's first artist residency at Light Work in Syracuse, New York, in 1985, following his early success with the "Harlem, U.S.A." project.
The one-month residency at Light Work provided Bey with an unprecedented opportunity as a young artist—a place to live and work without interruption. During this intensive period, he dedicated himself entirely to his craft, walking the city streets and photographing from sunrise to sunset every single day. This immersive experience would prove to be a pivotal moment that propelled his career to the next level.
Reflecting on this formative experience, Bey shared detailed insights about his background leading up to the residency. "In the fall of 1985, I began a one-month residency at Light Work, located in Syracuse, New York. At that point, I had never done a residency of any kind, though I had been exhibiting for several years," Bey explained. He had previously attended the School of Visual Arts for two years before making the bold decision to drop out and forfeit his scholarship to pursue the "Harlem, U.S.A." project.
Bey's early career was supported by the Cultural Foundation CETA Artists Project, a federal work program that had been modified to include artists in its workforce. His breakthrough exhibition "Harlem, U.S.A." took place at the Studio Museum in Harlem in 1979, followed by a show at the Cinque Gallery. The Cinque Gallery was a non-profit space founded by renowned artists Romare Bearden, Ernie Crichlow, and Norman Lewis specifically to showcase emerging artists of color.
The Light Work residency offered Bey financial stability through a decent stipend and provided him with an apartment. More importantly, it gave him continuous access to a darkroom and the freedom to create work daily—a completely new experience for the young photographer. "I seized the opportunity, photographing from sunup to sundown, seven days a week," Bey recalled. His approach was methodical and comprehensive, as he moved between various locations throughout Syracuse.
Bey's photographic journey during the residency took him across different neighborhoods and communities. He began his work in a low-rise housing project in the Black community on Syracuse's South Side before expanding into the downtown area. His process was immersive and spontaneous: "I walked up and down South Salina Street and the surrounding cross streets, stepped in and out of local establishments, mingled with people waiting for buses, crossed the street to follow the shifting light, and kept photographing the entire time."
The residency proved to be extraordinarily productive for Bey's developing career. He described it as "the single most productive month of my then-young career," emphasizing how the uninterrupted workflow allowed him to photograph, develop film, make contact sheets and prints, and then immediately return to the streets to continue shooting. This intensive cycle of creation and processing enabled him to maintain artistic momentum throughout the entire month.
The impact of the Syracuse work extended far beyond the residency itself. A few months after completing the program, Light Work published one of Bey's photographs in their publication "Contact Sheet," which was then a simple 11×17-inch sheet folded in half. Despite its modest format, the publication had an impressive reach that would change the trajectory of Bey's career.
The exposure through Light Work's mailing list led to an unexpected but career-defining opportunity. Shortly after the publication was distributed, the photography curator from Harvard's Fogg Art Museum contacted Light Work director Jeffrey Hoone, seeking to get in touch with Bey to view more of his work. This connection resulted in Bey's inclusion in the "New American Photographs" exhibition at the prestigious Fogg Art Museum, marking his entry into the next stage of his artistic career.
The exhibition "Dawoud Bey: Syracuse 1985" will remain on display at Stephen Daiter Gallery until November 28, 2025. The gallery is located at 230 W Superior Street, Suite 400, in Chicago, Illinois. More information about the exhibition and the gallery can be found at www.stephendaitergallery.com.
