USCB Hosting “American Moments” Photography Exhibit and History Talk on April 4

Photos from the funeral of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by John Shearer.

The University of South Carolina Beaufort is hosting a talk on Beaufort's history and intersection with the civil rights movement on Thursday, April 4, at 4 p.m., in the Center for the Arts auditorium.

Chris Barr of the Reconstruction Era National Park and USC history professor Val Littlefield will be joined on stage by Alison Shearer. She is USCB Chamber Music’s first-ever saxophonist and female composer, and daughter of acclaimed photographer John Shearer (1947-2019).

At age 17, John Shearer became one of the youngest photographers at a major publication when he was hired by Look magazine. He was also just the second African American photographer at LIFE. His work captured the essence of the civil rights era, including images of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s funeral.

Following the history talk, guests are invited to immerse themselves in an exhibit of “American Moments”, a collection of John Shearer's iconic photographs recently acquired by USCB Community Outreach.

Also on display will be the “2024 USCB Emerging Artist Competition: The Sound of Art!”, an exhibit of high school student work from a collaboration between the South Carolina Arts Commission, USCB art faculty, and USCB Chamber Music.

The lecture, reception, and exhibits are free to attend. The USCB Center for the Arts is located at 805 Carteret Street in Beaufort, SC.

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