The events surrounding the death of West Baltimore resident Freddie Gray 10 years ago were a focus of national and international news. Images of a city united in protest, clashes with police, and grieving family members and friends were seen around the world.
One of the most quintessential images of that time was captured by local photographer Devin Allen. It depicts a Black man running away from dozens of charging policemen. Allen at the time was an amateur photographer; yet his photo landed on the cover of Time Magazine’s May 11, 2015 issue and it sparked Allen’s photojournalism career.
Many of his rarely-exhibited images from 2015 are on view now through June 22 at the Baltimore Museum of Art in ‘Heavy With History, Devin Allen and the Baltimore Uprising.’
Baltimore Beat editor-in-chief Lisa Snowden curated the show, Tracey Beale, BMA director of public programs organized it. We hear from them, and from Devin Allen who shares his memories of that time, how it shaped his work, and the power that comes with controlling the narrative.
