Picturing Us is a collaborative, community oriented documentary photography project that began in 2013 on the campus of Morgan State University. With the advent of mobile photography and the proliferation of images, we are immersed in a visual environment where we document, share and even like one another’s life experiences on a daily basis. As an artist and educator I’m intrigued by the stories these images tell, both individually and collectively, and the historical importance of people being able to capture and define their own experiences.
With that in mind, Picturing Us aims to celebrate the diverse group of individuals who embody the Morgan community. This ongoing, ever evolving collection of images is less about school spirit and more about human spirit, a spirit that flows through all of us, connecting us and binding us together as one. Whether our stories intertwine, diverge or inspire, our stories are important and our stories will be shared with the world.
The photographic medium has given me the opportunity to walk through history and imagine the lives of distinct people.
Deborah Willis, Picturing Us: African American Identity in Photography
