We were honored to welcome Jean Ducrot to the museum today. Jean is the son of Nicolas Ducrot, a longtime close friend of Gordon Parks. Nicolas was also a talented book editor and designer who collaborated with Gordon on several of his publications, including Arias in Silence.

In a touching connection to Gordon’s legacy, Jean shared that when he was younger, Gordon asked him to choose the photograph for the cover of Arias in Silence. Today, Jean stood next to Gordon’s image, proudly holding the book and the very photo he selected all those years ago.

Moments like these remind us of the deep, personal bonds Gordon Parks forged throughout his life and career and how those relationships continue to inspire and resonate today.