Sheron with Piano 1972

Joan Cassis captured "Sheron with Piano" in an undated photograph. The image seems to capture a fleeting, private moment. The young Sheron peeks out from behind a chair, positioned in front of a dilapidated, turquoise piano. There is a dialogue between youth and decay, where the piano is a symbol of the aspirations of a past era. The plants atop the piano signal to the viewer a sense of life attempting to flourish. Cassis’ lens evokes a sense of vulnerability. The viewer is pulled into Sheron's intimate world, sharing in a moment that feels both fragile and revealing. Cassis, who was a Black woman, used photography to explore the nuanced experiences of the Black community, with the piano acting as a symbol of cultural expression and resistance. "Sheron with Piano" prompts a reflection on the narratives we construct around childhood, memory, and cultural identity. It's an invitation to consider the untold stories that reside within the frame.