Calvin Hicks, LA artist-photographer was 71

Artist J. Michael Walker sends word that his friend Calvin Hicks died on Sunday, from complications of cancer. Hicks' photography was most recently seen in the Pacific Standard Time exhibition, "Identity & Affirmation: Post-War African-American Photography," at Cal State Northridge. CSUN's Institute of Arts and Media has 500 of his images, some of them online. From Walker:

Hicks, who hailed from Mt. Carbon, West Virginia, moved to L.A. in 1967. In 1984, with fellow artist-photographer Roland Charles, he co-founded the Black Gallery, in the old Santa Barbara Plaza, as the country's only exhibition space devoted to African American Photography; he also co-founded the group Black Photographers of California.

In 1992 Hicks was one of ten photographers to participate in the book, Life in a Day of Black L.A.: The Way We See It, published by UCLA's Center for African American Studies.

Hicks' death, from complications of cancer, comes just fifteen days after the passing of his friend and colleague, artist-photographer Willie Middlebook.

Memorial services, scheduled for this Saturday, May 26, are still pending.

Walker's website.

Photo: Calvin Hicks