Cameras have been used to capture stunning, world-altering images in recent weeks, from the videos of undeniable police brutality to the photographs of the ensuing protests around the world. But photography itself is also a way for artists to reclaim, reflect, absorb, and continue the conversation of the current civil movement. This week several organizations are launching art and photography sales to raise money that directly assist the Black Lives Matter movement and the ongoing fight for racial justice.
See in Black
See in Black, a collective of Black photographers, launches on Juneteenth which celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. According to See in Black, their mission is to sell prints from Black artists to raise funds for the five key pillars of Black advancement: civil rights, education and arts, intersectionality, community building, and criminal justice reform.
Micaiah Carter, a Brooklyn-based photographer whose work is featured in See in Black, says the art chosen for this campaign was extremely intentional.
“This art isn’t about appealing to white gaze,” Carter said. “It’s about existence and authentic visibility, a narrative that we can only tell about ourselves.”
Carter’s work has been featured in A24 films, the New York Times, and Urban Outfitters campaigns, and he says his art is a reflection of the state of the world.
“Art in this context, particularly when it comes to See in Black’s mission, is to interrogate how Black Americans face an unkind world with dignity and beauty.”
The Earth Issue Freedom Fundraiser
The Earth Issue Freedom Fundraiser, through a series of four rollouts over 30 days, features art donated by more than 190 artists and counting. All funds go directly toward bail contributions and to organizations fighting for social justice, and the final round of prints will be available starting next week.
Siam Coy, a London-based artist contributing to Earth Issue, saw this campaign as an opportunity to shed light on those who are often overshadowed within societal norms. Although he strives for inclusivity in his work, Coy has always been aware of the lack of diversity in media. But that has only driven Coy to strive for more.
“I know other kids can relate to this feeling because they’re not seeing any representation of themselves,” Coy said. “The world seems so much smaller then.”
[Reframing the Future]
Reframing the Future, a coalition of more than 70 artists, will also be selling prints. Funds will be split between the National Bail Out and the Marsha P. Johnson Institute.
“We believe confronting white supremacy cannot be achieved without a commitment to honesty, accountability, and direct action,” Reframing the Future said in a statement.
Within the first 48 hours, Reframing the Future raised $50,000, which will be put toward long-term community building and organizing within the Black community. The images, which offer a variety of styles from
“Art in the Black Lives Matter movement is powerful and imperative,” said Sabrina Santiago, an artist contributing to Reframing the Future. “As a woman of color, I want to share and highlight our beauty with the photographs and videos I make. I hope to make my subjects and subcultures feel empowered.”
According Myriah Acosta, another contributor to Reframing the Future, “A creative field is rarely the first choice a parent wants for their children, especially in a Mexican household like mine.” But she believes the need for diverse voices in the field is essential no matter what background you come from. “The media has stayed white and skinny for too long,” Acosta said.
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