The Queens of Community project is a photographic portrait series celebrating Black women. This series explores the lives of southern Black women who work within their neighborhoods and communities to break the barriers of racial inequities.

Each portrait highlights the individual power, determination and grace of the Black woman- each story telling of the indomitable spirit of Black womanhood- staring back at us, studying us, and challenging us to see their strength. A strength that has birthed us, nurtured us, inspired us, taught us, led us and loved us.

 

This project is a collaboration of Owens Daniel and Christine Rucker. Both are photographers with different perspectives but a shared vision of how to portray their community.

 
 
photo courtesy of Walt Unks, WS Journal

photo courtesy of Walt Unks, WS Journal

photo courtesy of Walt Unks, WS Journal

photo courtesy of Walt Unks, WS Journal

 

Owens combines fashion, street photography, and visual art to create narratives of social justice that cause the viewer to stop and question their own thoughts and beliefs.

Christine’s background as a photojournalist has allowed her to photograph and experience the lives of people across many racial and cultural divides. Those experiences instilled an empathy, understanding and gratitude that remain constant theme’s in her work.

Both artists have extensive exhibit and public art history; full résumés available upon request. 

 

Our Vision

Taking art outside the walls of galleries and into public spaces where the subjects are making a difference; working to shake stubborn ways of thinking about Black communities and allowing a different narrative and vision of these communities to be shared. Public art allows a broader viewership and opens pathways for engagement and conversation.

Why Women?

When we look at monuments across America, less than 8% are devoted to women, and even fewer to Black women.

2020 was the 100th year anniversary for the women’s right to vote, but out of 5,100 monuments in the US, over 700 monuments are of confederate figures and only 394 are of women

Our Goal

 

Public Art

Create a rotating public art exhibit through Forsyth, Davidson, Stokes, Surry, Yadkin, and Davie counties. This public art exhibit will be combination of semi-permanent and temporary works consisting of oversized vinyl, wheat paste applications and digital canvas’ projected on buildings through each of these counties.

Social Media Campaign

Over 20 portraits, videos, stories and audio clips will live on the web-site ; a social media campaign will highlight each story in conjunction with the rotating public art exhibit.

Education

Project will be presented in elementary, middle and high schools in each county to broaden the views of the roles of Black women and Black communities. It is also our hope that these photographs and stories will inspire girls in black and brown communities to see themselves in these roles and realize their own potential.