Ode to Summer
I curated and wrote a poem for a photo zine!
The issue, which was created for the Washington Informer’s Bridge Magazine, isn’t available online yet so I decided to share it here. Below is my original letter from the curator.
Photographers in order of appearance: Sika Bonsu; Corey Hariston, Katelyn King, Dee Dwyer, Kai Tsehay, Shedrick Pelt, Nyeusi Mwezi, Lia Latty, and Kristen Charlery.
I’ll always remember spending an afternoon surrounded by photos, waiting for a sign. When I asked for images that signified summer and spoke to aspects of the human condition like: love, family, passion, meditation, and adventure, I wasn’t sure what to expect. This project was very different from anything we’ve done at the Bridge, and to be honest, open calls can get a little hectic. Fortunately, it didn’t take long for the pictures to speak.
The inspiration for this issue is loosely based on Nothing Personal, a collaboration between writer James Baldwin and photographer Richard Avedon. In their version, long-form prose becomes the score of a visual meditation on humanity. For my remix, I’ve opted to work with nine local photographers, recontextualizing their images through my own experiences and observations to create an Ode to Summer.
I’m immensely grateful to Lafayette for giving me space to try something new and to the photographers for their trust.
May these pages warm you with nostalgia.
