B.B. King in Memphis Exhibit Panel Discussion: Photography, Memory, & Music

The event is free and open to the public

As part of the exhibit series, the Stax Museum invites you to a compelling evening of conversation on the power of photography in documenting, shaping, and preserving musical and cultural history.

This introductory panel, moderated by Soulsville Foundation CEO Pat Mitchell-Worley, will bring together three dynamic voices in the fields of photography, art, and cultural preservation: Myke Newman, Ziggy Mack, and C. Rose Smith. Together, they will explore the role photography plays in memorializing life and legacy.

Through personal storytelling, professional insight, and historical perspective, the panelists will reflect on how visual archives become essential tools for honoring memory and building community.

Meet the Panelists:

Myke Newman

A Memphis-born, second-generation visual artist and photographer, Myke has spent nearly 30 years documenting everyday life, historical moments, and entertainment culture. His work captures the richness of African American experiences and emphasizes the importance of preserving stories for future generations.

(Louis “Ziggy” Tucker)

Known for his striking portraits of movement and grace, Ziggy specializes in dance and aquatic photography through his studio, Brine & Line Photography. A staff photographer for Ballet Memphis, Ziggy’s work has spanned continents and artistic disciplines, capturing everything from ballet performances to avant-garde circus arts.

A conceptual photographer and visual artist from Memphis, Rose’s work examines identity, race, gender, and social performance through still and moving images. Her photographs challenge social norms while offering bold, reimagined representations of selfhood. Rose’s work has been exhibited internationally and recognized by prestigious organizations such as Leica Gallery Paris and Aperture Magazine.

Host or Publisher Stax Museum of American Soul Music