RECEPTION FOR Black Box: A Photographic Memoir

“The American photographer offers a singular fusion of literary and photographic art in her autobiography Black Box… Just as her images are emphatically her own, so too is the form of this book that charts her four decades as a photographer, activist, and witness to history. Two expressive strands, one a retrospective of her strongest visual work and the other a series of flash memoirs, join to produce an object that is greater than the sum of its parts—a singular fusion of literary and photographic art… It is her generous openness to the moment that magnetized pivotal personalities and incidents. A memorial to these moments made of poetry and light, Dona Ann McAdams’s book of remembering is not easily forgotten.”

— Melissa Holbrook Pierson, Hyperallergic

“With two distinct forms narrating twin plot lines, wrestling both into a cohesive narrative must have been a challenge. If so, McAdams makes it look like a breeze. Whether by text or picture, the reader is carried along easily. Most will consume this page-turner in one or two evenings. McAdams pictures push the pace. She’s a strong photographer with a consistent visual style. Almost all of the photos are 35 mm black-and-white pictures, shot with various Leicas and printed with full frame borders in bygone analog fashion. Whether shooting a street scene in San Francisco, a muddy dance performance, or horses in a snowdrift, her authorship is never in doubt. McAdams’ photographic reputation is confirmed, but we already knew that side of her. The greater revelation of Black Box is McAdams’ prose, which might be even better than her photos. From a dyslexic childhood, she has matured into a writer of refreshing purity, with a voice which is witty, honest and expressive. Whether using camera or pen, McAdams strips away extraneous stuff, translates the remainder into something usable, then composes it into a tidy package. Right place, right time, right curation.”

— Blake Andrews, Collector Daily

“Rich in lyricism, the US imagemaker’s new photo book shares intimate stories from her childhood through to the present day… Much like the camera, the photographic memoir itself becomes a black box – an artifact of nostalgia, memories and time.”

— Esme Hewitt, Creative Review

“Dona Ann McAdams’ Black Box: A Photographic Memoir is a powerful collection of five decades of photography, bringing together her unseen negatives, iconic images, and personal reflections in a way that redefines the role of photography as both art and historical record… What makes Black Box unique is its structure—McAdams pairs her photographs with short, poetic reflections she calls “ditties,” adding a deeply personal layer to each image.”

— About Photography

“McAdams’ life/photo journey has been extraordinary, finding herself and her camera in places with people and in times that are historic and memorable. She brings those bits of life to the reader in theatric intimacy, drama, and matter-of-fact reality…. Personal, gritty, elegant and provocative… This is truly an extraordinary book with images that talk to each other and the reader.”

— Lee Halvorsen, PhotoBook Journal

“Black Box is an emotional photographic memoir by American photographer Dona Ann McAdams, who captured pivotal cultural and political movements, including the queer liberation movement, the culture wars, and the vibrant performance art scene of the ’80s and ’90s in New York…This compilation portrays moving black-and-white pictures which will give goosebumps to any queer history lover…{a} masterpiece.”

— Carla Jové, GCN