Pictures venture goals to doc Black theatre tradition

Black theater makers have lengthy been part of shaping native arts scene, however a lot of that work has gone undocumented.

One venture is working to construct an archive and legacy, one {photograph} at a time.

“So, the idea came from the fact that there were so many of us doing so many interesting things,” mentioned actor and director Aaron Joshua. “There wasn’t really an archive that was collecting all the plays, all the musicals, all the things that we were doing.”

Joshua seen there was a spot when it got here to Black creatives within the theater house.

“I’ve seen so many people for many, many years do amazing, beautiful works of theatrical art here,” he mentioned. “And once it’s been done, then that’s it. There’s no type of record, there’s no video.”

So, he got down to change that — one image at a time.

For the previous few years, he’s kicked off Black History Month with a photoshoot, highlighting the folks he says contribute a lot to the native theater group, however typically go unseen.

“And one of the things that the photoshoot was inspired by was to give us that space to just say, you know, you just did this show, or you just did that — I saw it, and you were amazing,” he mentioned.

The shoot additionally magnifies the work of individuals behind the scenes and behind the digital camera lens.

Willie David Short V got here on board because the photographer for every shoot.

“I remember it was the year before I actually took these pictures — we were here, and I remember sitting there and thinking, I could do that, and feeling like I wanted to be a part of this,” he mentioned.

Willie helps to mint Black work throughout the theater trade, all whereas constructing on his personal journey.

“And ever since then, I think I’m at close to 150 shows where either I’ve done lighting, I’ve done sound or I’ve helped build a set — and each one of those, I’ve done photography in it,” he mentioned.

Willie provides {that a} community of encouragement from different Black creatives is what led him to the stage within the first place.

“So yeah, my wife, Angelique Nina Powell — I’ll throw a shout-out for her, she’s an amazing actress, and she’s the reason why I’m actually here right now,” he mentioned. If not for her, I wouldn’t have met all these superb folks or felt free sufficient to precise myself in my medium.”

And Joshua says that’s what this venture is all about.

“That’s the first question I ask myself, ‘How is this magnifying the magnificence of people that look like me? ‘” he requested.