An exhibition titled "Jack Leigh & Parker Stewart: In Place" has opened at Laney Contemporary in Savannah, featuring black-and-white photographs by Jack Leigh (1948–2004) and Parker Stewart (b. 1992). Both artists document the landscape and communities of the coastal South, with Leigh known for his work on oystermen, shrimp boat crews, and Gullah Geechee communities, and Stewart focusing on tidal landscapes of coastal Georgia and the Savannah River Basin. The show includes serendipitous parallels, such as nearly identical photographs of a water tower taken by each artist decades apart. Co-curated by Stewart and gallerist Susan Laney, it marks the first time Leigh's work has been exhibited alongside a living photographer in nearly a decade.
This exhibition matters because it bridges generations of Southern documentary photography, highlighting the enduring influence of Jack Leigh on contemporary practitioners like Parker Stewart. It also underscores the role of Laney Contemporary in preserving and advancing Leigh's legacy while fostering new talent. The show draws attention to the fragile beauty of the coastal South landscape and the tradition of black-and-white photography that captures its cultural and environmental character, connecting past and present artistic visions in a meaningful dialogue.