Durham Renaissance (work in progress)
This photoessay is dedicated to creating classical portraiture personifying the growing movement of writers, visual artists, and musicians in Durham, NC and the surrounding area. Using the camera as a research tool and a paint brush, I have spent the last year bearing witness to the increased output by creatives of color both originating from Bull City and those inspired to migrate here from other parts of the country and abroad.
The relationship between aesthetics and racial politics is revealed through the stories of old and new generation artists in the triangle. The prevailing statement being made is that these are not “Black artists not making Black art”, but artists of color making good art. This idea has created the spark for assembling a list of creatives, past and present, that are being invited to sit for a classic style photographic portrait and interview.
