Photographing the Artists Behind the Murals
Murals are going up around Minneapolis and Saint Paul, but few people are introduced to the artists, especially the Black, brown, and indigenous artists, behind the work. As an organization dedicated to storytelling and the just distribution of opportunity and privilege, Forecast hired two BIPOC photographers—Awa Mally and Neh-Dah-Ness Rose Greene—to document Black and BIPOC-led creative projects around the Twin Cities. From June 5-12, they were tasked with photographing projects that they knew about, and to find more.
Through the lens of these incredible photographers, their own images tell the story of the artists behind the art. Scroll through a series of project slideshows below, the first set photographed by Awa Mally, and the second by Ne-Dah-Ness Rose Greene.
These are a snapshot of projects around the Twin Cities from one week in June. We welcome hearing about more projects happening.
Photographer—Awa Mally
Awa Mally is a Togolese-American photographer, production assistant and creative based in the Twin Cities. A driven artist, she aims to reflect the truth of her photographic subjects and the depth of their identity and experiences.
Olivia Macy
We Weep with You
Antoine Jenkins (antz.creationz), and Josh Browne
Maiya Lea Hartman
Creatives After Curfew
Seward Co-op on 38th
Creatives After Curfew
Seward Co-op and 38th
Bayou (Donald Thomas)
Creatives After Curfew
Protection on Path
Seward Co-op and 38th
Peyton Scott Russell
We
Lyndale Avenue and Lake Street
Jack, Nicole, Simone, Alexa, Andrew
Creatives After Curfew
Standing Together
Seward Co-op on 38th
Ashley Koudou, Taylan de Johnette
Creatives After Curfew
Seward Co-op on 38th
Drago
Be Kind
Lyndale Avenue and Lake Street
Taylan de Johnette, Leslie Barlow, Patricio de Lara
Creatives After Curfew
Seward Co-op on 38th
Victoria Pena, Romeo Kurtyka, Audrey Foxen
Aliveness Project
Leilani
Aliveness Project
Aurum Oro & Myc Daz
University Avenue, between Rice and Dale Streets
Geno Okok
University Avenue, between Rice and Dale Streets
Canaan Ray Strong
University Avenue, between Rice and Dale Streets
Photographer—Ne-Dah-Ness Rose Greene
Ne-Dah-Ness a BIPOC artisan from Leech Lake creates her work by highlighting the beauty and symmetry in people, places and things that the average eyes do not see. The camera, various lenses and selecting the right setting are all essential in producing her art.
Ne-Dah-Ness captures her feelings in her subjects that engenders a visceral reaction to her viewers. They say she has, “The Eye of the Tiger” and that her eyes are a magical gift, because they can create emotion and understanding.
She specializes in the photographic genres of portraits, wildlife and wetlands, black and white, silhouettes, and creative beauty images.
Photography is her art form because it is an extension of who she is. The camera is her heart beat and the lenses are her eyes. Ne-Dah-Ness says her photos make time stand still and they make a lifetime of memories for people to cherish and hold close. The people that are captivated and impressed by her photos are the ones who continue to inspire, influence and motivate her to create and master her craft in photography, to influence and change perspectives as well as lives.
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