Culture

Project 562: More Than Just Photography

Cecil Alsanussi | Design Editor

Matika Wilbur, a world-acclaimed photographer, displays her work 'Project 562' until Monday, May 15, 2023 at Santa Monica College's Pete and Susan Barrett Art Gallery. Project 562 consists of a collection of 76 portraits shot over ten years while visiting 562 federally recognized tribes around the Americas.

In 2012 Wilbur sold everything in her Seattle apartment allowing her to fund Project 562 within two weeks. In her journey to visit, connect and photograph all 562+ Native American sovereign territories in the United States she seeks to introduce more people to the Native world by focusing on indigenous themes such as land-based identity, language, community, and education. Wilbur claimed in her presentation the purpose of this initiative is to change the collective consciousness of visitors and reinvigorate their perceptions about indigenous cultures.

Wilbur discussed how the inspiration for her project came from her volunteer work in native schools on her reservation. She finds importance in teaching children on the reservation photography and music, despite the art program in Washington being curtailed. "In my classrooms, some policies that I like to institute is allowing students to test with the collective consciousness," which Wilbur described as taking the test as a group rather than as an individual which she noticed helps the students rely on and work with each other. Wilbur highlights the need to develop a curriculum that teaches Native children the history of their culture and ancestors. She claims her approach will result in better curriculum development based on love and connection to what she refers to as the collective consciousness.

Wilbur begins by correcting the assumption that Indigenous people are to be held to higher spiritual standards than the average person, adding, "It's not like we're all spiritual beings or something just because we are native." She went on to say that just like anybody, they are still affected by real-life problems like inflation and high gas prices. "We are still trying to have a human experience with all the regular human emotions," Wilbur said. When asked what we as a society can learn from Indigenous culture, the photographer continued by saying, "Baked into [Native] traditional pedagogies are ways to develop a relationship with land and that starts with creating a place-

Andrea Marcy | The Corsair Student drummer from Crenshaw High School walking through the Taste Of Soul Festival on 15th of October 2022.

L.A. Gets a Taste of Soul

Andrea Marcy | Digital Editor Michael Zavala | Culture Editor

On Oct 15, 2022 the Taste of Soul Festival was held on Crenshaw Boulevard, between Stocker Street and Obama Boulevard. Created by Danny Blakewell in 2005, it is known as Los Angeles' biggest street festival. Every year, Taste of Soul celebrates different Black cultures, food, and local vendors. Although it was paused for 3 years, it came back stronger than ever, with over 300 vendors, booths and 5 live stages. There were many booths for the community that shared different resources based understanding of yourself."

Visual arts professor Emily Silver recalls how the SMC Art and Photo Department collaboration between herself, SMC Art History professor Walter Meyer, and Matika Wilbur came to be. In a conversation with the head of the Photography Department Josh Sanseri, Silver asked, "What if we had a photo exhibition that spoke to both the fine art students and the photo students?" In response, Sanseri recommended she view Matika Wilbur's work. Silver said the native photographer and herself instantly connected upon a call. Silver and Meyer’s students from the Art and Photography Department built walls to serve as murals in the exhibition.

Wilbur's wide range of work possesses a message that is so powerful that Professor Silver foresees more cooperation with the Native photographer, such as a Santa Monica College residency, a film festival, murals, and lectures on Indigenous culture.

Tyler Simms | The Corsair Matika Wilbur speaks and showcases her work at her exhibit "Changing The Way We See Native America."

from medical screenings, financial support, and public transportation to college recruitment booths.

In preparation for the big day, Andrew Escobar, the producer of two stages, said “we try to find performers that relate to the audience or are people that we can remember from back in the day.” Local organizations including the L.A. City Council, police department and fire department have weekly meetings starting around June each year. Escobar said that his favorite part of the festival is music and even has a significant memory of a time Stevie Wonder volunteered to perform as he was visiting the festival.

During the event there were also local High School bands and drill teams that performed. Juquari Baskin, the Dorsey High Drill Team choreographer said, “I think it may be even more important for high school students to come and get involved to see the different opportunities they might have.” With there being more than 300 vendors, booths, and some big universities, students are able to inform themselves about the admission and application process to attend colleges.

“The festival gives local black owned businesses the chance to come to get support from the community as well as entrepreneurs trying to find opportunities to branch out as well as find resources for the communities,” he said. This was the third year that Baskins attended the festival.

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti made a special guest appearance coming on stage as his last time attending Taste of Soul as Mayor. Garcetti has been supporting Taste of Soul from the very beginning, back in 2005.

“This is as big as I can remember it, people are ready to party, but also ready to celebrate,” Garcetti said. “After a week like this week, where we saw such hateful things come out of so-called leaders' mouths, this is a good reminder of who we actually are.” Garcetti referred to the recent controversy between L.A. council members Kevin de León, Nury Martinez, Gil Cedillo and Ron Herrera.

During a live performance, Garcetti and Blakewell introduced mayoral candidate Karen Bass to the audience as a special guest. When asked about the importance of the festival, she said that it is important for younger generations, which was why she also brought her grandchildren to the festival.

Taste of Soul was more than just another excuse to get a tasty bite of food, but a way to connect with the community of LA. Taste of Soul has been around for 17 years and will continue to go on as it is always brought back by the community. The next festival will take place Oct. 21, 2023 on Crenshaw Blvd.