Revelations: Photographs of Cleveland's African American Churches

Photographer and teacher Mike Levy has spent most of his career in northeastern Ohio. He was given an assignment from the Cleveland Plain Dealer to photograph a small, storefront church in Cleveland, Ohio, called Manna House. Levy, experiencing some difficult life situations at the time, found healing in the church so he continued to attend and to photograph during the services. Revelations grew out of this assignment. Revelations captures the spirit of the African American worship experience through arresting images of congregants' facial expressions and body language, their colorful uniforms and dress, and the solemnity of their worship. The images of baptisms, weddings, funerals, Sunday services, and special celebrations are at once serene and exaltant, pensive and inspirational. Revelations honors not only the spiritual dimension of the African American church but the pride and dignity that prevails within the churchgoing family.