Panel Discussion with Robert Wade, Moderated by Curator Avery Barnes

Join us for an engaging panel discussion with renowned photographer Robert Wade at the opening reception of his latest exhibition on April 16th, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM.

Robert will recount his early days in Los Angeles, his experiences dodging the draft during the Vietnam War, traveling throughout the world during the Black Power movement, and how his transition into digital photography profoundly shaped his career.

1969 and Beyond by Robert Wade, born in 1945, offers a poignant glimpse into a world in transformation. Capturing a pivotal timeline, a moment of seismic shifts and social upheaval, transporting us from intimate encounters within the Black Panther movement in Copenhagen to the vibrant energy of the Pan African Cultural Festival in Algiers, where the echoes of revolution resonated. 1969 was a year marked by seismic political shifts, war, and social unrest a turning point that continues to shape our world.

This exhibition marks the gallery’s first photography exhibition, highlighting compelling images of beauty and historical significance from around the world, while connecting both African American movements and the African continent, but tells the story of Mr. Wade’s contributions within his community and how TASWIRA Founder, Avery Barnes, and Mr. Wade formed a unique bond in mentorship through the arts.

Mr. Wade's editorial and commercial photographs have been acquired by institutional collections, published in magazines including Art Forum, Art in America, the Seattle Times, SF Gate and GQ, and his event photography clients include numerous for-profit and nonprofit organizations. In addition to working as a commercial photographer, his fine art practice has been featured in both group shows and solo-exhibitions in New York, Miami, Brazil, and Spain, since the 1970s. 

Formerly serving as president of the Contemporary Art Council at the Seattle Art Museum, on the boards of CoCA, and the Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra, Mr. Wade is currently a long-time member of the Henry Art Gallery Board of Trustees.

Founded by curator Avery Barnes, TASWIRA Gallery has been a powerful force in Seattle’s art scene, dedicated to showcasing diverse contemporary voices, particularly those from the African Diaspora. Over the past two and a half years, TASWIRA has established itself as a cultural hub where art and community intersect.

Host or Publisher TASWIRA