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We are happy to announce that this year's Young Photographers Guest Lecture Series will feature Mr. Eric Draper, former Chief White House Photographer for the George W. Bush Administration and he will take the lectern at the Dallas Museum of Art's Horchow Auditorium for the 22nd annual presentation of the Young Photographers Guest Lecture Series on Saturday August 4, 2012 at 1:00pm for a presentation of photography and a sharing of his experiences behind the camera as Chief White House Photographer. Mr. Draper served as Chief White House Photographer for the 2 term Bush Administration and is credited with transforming the photo library to digital. He shot nearly one million photos documenting President Bush's presidency and private life. He was the first White House photographer to be named a commissioned officer to a U.S. President and he was Special Assistant to President Bush. His presentation is a must see.

Gordon Parks would have marked his 100th birthday had he lived on, and the Foundation is commemorating his 100th, because his achievements as a photojournalist, author, film maker, poet and musician is impossible to not recognize, as is his inspiration and mentoring to others, especially our youth. It triggered an explosion of giving back and an evolution of more photographers painters, musicians and writers; Gordon covered the gammut and continues to inspire future great artists. A good friend and former assistant to Gordon Parks will take the podium for the Young Photographers Guest Lecture Series and share his experiences behind the camera, his success, and also what is was like to work with Gordon.

Adger W. Cowans is a profound expressionist painter and fine arts photographer. A renowned artist, Mr. Cowans has exhibited at the International Museum of Photography, the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, Harvard Fine Art Museum, the Studio Museum of Harlem and a number of other respected venues across the country. We are happy to announce that he is this year's Guest Lecturer and he will be bringing with him paint and photographic visions that covers his career span of 5 decades. Jacob Deschin of the New York Times gave a description of Cowans’ work as “Boldly inventive and experimental...and the artist is a craftsman to his fingertips.” when he viewed Adger's first solo exhibition at the Heliography Gallery in New York.

Romare Bearden made this comment on Adger's works: "A photograph is supposed to be a fairly accurate representative of what the eye sees. Yet we do an injustice to our own perceptions if we are only concerned with the usual facts of life."

When I first saw these water images of Adger's it occured to me that an artist might be inspired by certain phenomena that may be artistically meaningless to everyone else. In haystacks Monet found something to illuminate his observations of the play of light and color during varying hours of the day. So, too, in water, still water, running water, even frozen water, Cowans invites us to see a universe in microcosm...Whatever affinities directed our poet photographer to immerse himself in the waters of life and art, as with all good artists, he had dealt convincingly with these mysteries of creation.

The success of these photographs need not be explained, rather they are a cause for celebration. Afterall, the power of art is irrestible." --Romare Bearden

Come witness the photo genius of Adger W. Cowans whose creative works will bring you into a world of photography images as only Adger can capture. He will take the lectern as the keynote of the Young Photographers Guest Lecture Series on Saturday August 17, 2013 in the Theater Auditorium at the J. Erik Jonsson Downtown Dallas Branch Library located at 1515 Young Street in Dallas, Texas. Time will be at 1pm. All photography students and enthusiasts are invited to attend. The public is welcome and there is no admission. Seating is limited so please RSVP at 214-716-7481. More to come.

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Our Past Guest Lecturers
1. Toni Parks
2. Gordon Parks
3. RC Hickman
4. Milton Hinnant
5. Howard Bingham
6. D. Michael Cheers
7. Eli Reed
8. Irwin Thompson
9. Sharon Farmer
10. Carl Sidle
11. Katina Revels
12. David Parks
13. Chester Higgins Jr.
14. Melani N. Douglass
15. Beatrice McBride
16. Randy Eli Grothe
17. Gail Nogle
18. Vernon Bryant

Artist and Elaine Thornton Foundation for the Arts
P.O. Box 210647
Dallas, Tx 75211
214-716-7481 or
email: artistelaine2@juno.com