004 ☼ Sheila Pree Bright - Houston's Rhythm
The 90s Hip Hop Revolution
Process Projected
New Exhibition:
Houston's Rhythm: The 90s Hip Hop Revolution
Sheila Pree Bright
March 12-25
Dear friends,
We are back with the fourth installment of the Process Projected exhibition series, the beautiful and historic work of Sheila Pree Bright. I am thrilled to be showcasing these rarely seen images that dive into such an interesting moment of music history, Texas history, and black history.
In Sheila’s Own Words
"In the 90s, fresh out of college, I embarked on my career journey as a self-taught photographer. Settling in with my brother in Houston, Texas, I found myself untouched by the rapidly growing hip-hop scene. Yet, my curiosity about the hip-hop culture surged, especially about Black males in gangster rap and their lyrical content.
As a child growing up in Germany, I was deeply attached to my father. He was a man of confidence and pride, yet beneath his strong exterior lay a shadow of unspoken sorrow, a mystery to my young self. It wasn't until adulthood, through conversations with my mother, that I began to comprehend the depths of his struggles.
She revealed his experiences as a Black man during the Jim Crow era and his service in the Vietnam War. This understanding bridged a connection for me between the sorrows expressed by the rappers and the unspoken hardships my father endured. Immersing myself in the third and fifth Ward communities, I began photographing for independent record labels, shooting promotional photos, eventually leading me to work with Rap-A-Lot Records.
Scarface from the Geto Boys was the first rapper I photographed who started his solo career. I continued to shoot for the label, photographing other members such as Big Mike, 5th Ward Boyz, Big Mello, 2 Low, Odd Squad, and Blac Monks.
Through my lens, I was unknowingly documenting history, capturing the seeds of an era that had grown into a monumental movement. As we celebrate the anniversary of hip-hop, I reflect on my journey with immense gratitude. This culture not only allowed me to contribute to a rich history but also provided a deeper understanding of my father's tribulations as a Black man.
My life as a daughter of a soldier, intertwined with the portraits and the conversations I had with the rappers, offers insights into his daily challenges. It's an honor to have played a part in this significant journey, giving me a profound appreciation of my roots and the struggles that shaped them."
Sheila Pree Bright not only found herself at the right place and time to document a pivotal moment in history, but she also approached it from an intensely personal perspective that goes beyond the conventional notion of capturing music culture. I’m so pleased to be able to showcase this layered project.
Let me know if you pop by the gallery, I might be there or nearby.
Wesley Verhoeve, curator
Process Projected at What Is Happening Here Gallery
Reguliersdwarsstraat 73, Amsterdam
Opening Times: Tuesdays through Saturdays, noon until 6pm
Upcoming Exhibition
Each installment of Process Projected is shown for two weeks.
005 — 37000
Guy Pinhas
March 26 - April 8
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About The Artist
Sheila Pree Bright is an award-winning American photographer and visual artist based in Atlanta, Georgia. Her work is known for exploring themes of social justice, race, and identity, often through powerful portraits and documentary-style photography.
She has published several acclaimed books, including "#1960Now: Photographs of Civil Rights Activists and Black Lives Matter Protests" and "Plastic Bodies," which examines the impact of beauty standards on women of color. Bright's work has been exhibited at museums and galleries around the world, including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture and the High Museum of Art.
She has received numerous awards and honors for her photography, including the Santa Fe Prize and the National Endowment for the Arts Grant. Bright is also a dedicated educator, teaching photography at the university level and mentoring young artists. Through her art and activism, Bright continues to use her lens to challenge societal norms and advocate for positive change.
For more about Sheila, please visit Sheilapreebright.com
About The Curator
Wesley Verhoeve is an Amsterdam-based photographer and curator.
His photography has been featured in publications such as the New York Times, National Geographic, the Washington Post, Wired, and many other publications.
As a curator, Wesley was responsible for 96 exhibits at the International Center of Photography in New York City, highlighting the works of over three hundred photographers from across fifty countries. Previous to ICP, Wesley served as the first curator-at-large for WeTransfer, curating works by over six hundred visual creatives.
Wesley Verhoeve also publishes Process, a weekly newsletter dedicated to photography and discovering one's voice. It was the first photography newsletter published on the Substack platform and has more than 10,000 subscribers.
Dynamite! one of my favorite Ice Cube lines (re: his sell-out NWA former comrades) is "Willie D. told me let a ho be a ho" which I've used often in conversation so to see the two together is great. These are also technically solid which makes me curious about the medium(s) used. Lastly, as a daughter of a former U.S. service member I can sense more than a little discipline in her approach.