Random Excellence: David Dyer-Bennet

David Dyer-Bennet, from the Words Over Windows project

David Dyer-Bennet, whose friends call him DD-B, has been a TOP reader for a long time and a photographer for a much longer time. After George Floyd was killed in DD-B's neighborhood in Minneapolis, he became fascinated with the art that bloomed on the plywood covering broken windows, and began to document it. He calls the project Words Over Windows.

"I’ve lived in South Minneapolis for nearly all of the last 40 years," he writes. "The killing happened a mile from my house, at an intersection I pass through many times a week. The Cub and Target over by 3rd Precinct are where most of my shopping happened, and is a mile north of a previous place I lived. 5th Precinct and the Post Office and Wells Fargo that got burned are a mile north of me. I lived just around the corner from where Uncle Hugo’s Science Fiction Bookstore was burned (and have known the owner since the 1970s). This is all familiar territory, right where I live."

He created a book that's being sold in local stores. The project in its current state can be viewed at the website he created for it.

David had a print sale on TOP in 2014. Mine hangs in my living room behind my front door.

Mike

Reply from DD-B: "Wow! Surprised, and of course very pleased, to see this. This project ate much of my summer, from starting shooting in early June to getting the site up in August, plus considerable time since working on prints (I'm traveling, but I got acceptable proofs of some panorama prints the week before I left, and need to get those on the site). Had no idea of what I was going to do with the photos when I started shooting, either. (And stats show that some people have indeed clicked on the link to the site. The rest of you should stop by and look at the photos also.)"

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BOOK of the WEEK
as discussed in this post from last week:

How Not to Diet by Michael Greger
(Links go to Amazon)

(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:

John Camp: "Uncle Hugo's science fiction bookstore was right next to Uncle Edgar's mystery bookstore (as in Edgar Allan Poe), both stores part of the same operation. I've signed books at Uncle Edgar's and didn't realize it had been burned. That's very sad. I can't think of a less offensive place in that neighborhood or any other...just booky people going in to find a good read."

Joe Holmes: "What a great collection! Starting at the beginning of June, I've been documenting the Black Lives Matter street art in New York City's Soho and Lower East side, resulting in this collection. Because the art was constantly being removed or tagged or painted over, I felt as if I were on a mission to preserve the work before it was gone."

Mike replies: That's some great documentary work Joe.

Comments

[Kye Wood]

In Australia, police operate with impunity. Even when there is video footage and credible eye witnesses, juries always acquit.

Police are the only "service" without discipline or accountability. And this in a country without an excuse of poor training or selection. Our police are exceptionally well trained. They're just dehumanised after the first year on the job. I would
not be immune from that myself.

[Gary]

Inexcusable hooliganism. I don't care what your cause, no one has the right to do this to innocent people (owners, employees). Like the beloved camera store in NYC.

[Tam]

I've been a DD-B admirer at one remove since before I got back into photography. <3

[James]

@ Joe Holmes - WOW!

Well done, sir.

[Mike Ferron]

Ok Mike you got me on the how not to diet book via the Amazon link (kindle).
Funny but I have been watching Dr. Gregor on YouTube not connecting this book with him.