Art has always been at the forefront of social change. Artist collective the Earth Issue is ensuring it's tangible with its Freedom Fundraiser: a print sale created to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
The Earth Issue Freedom Fundraiser features work donated by more than 80 artists and photographers around the world. 100 per cent of proceeds after printing and shipping will be donated to organisations on Bail Funds: George Floyd and the 4Front Project. The latter is a UK-based youth organisation that empowers young people to fight for justice, peace and freedom.
With contributions from artists and photographers like Ronan Mckenzie, Poulomi Basu, Harley Weir, Denisse Ariana Pérez, Mark Clennon, Rosie Matheson, Olivia Rose, Sabrina Santiago and Adama Jalloh - it represents a meeting point of beauty and power.
More than $125 thousand has been raised so far, with proceeds donated every three days. And prints are selling fast.
It goes without saying: don't wait to do your part.
Below, just a few of the photographers to know who are donating their works to the Freedom Fundraiser.
Denisse Ariana Pérez
Denisse Ariana Pérez is a Caribbean-born, Copenhagen-based photographer, author and copywriter. She donated her work, Boys and Water, 2019, as part of the Freedom Fundraiser. As she notes on her website, "I keep coming back to water scenes ... I like to explore the interaction of people, particularly of young boys and men, with water. Water can disarm even the most armed of facades."
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Chieska Fortune Smith
Chieska Fortune Smith is a Japanese / Black-American woman living in London. She came to photography after picking up a camera 10 years ago in Japan. Now she equates the practice to a kind of "medicine". Her works Mide, 2020 and Back, 2021, are featured as part of The Earth Issue Freedom Fundraiser.
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Henry Jay Kamara
Photographer Henry Jay Kamara's works are an exploration of heritage, identity and self-discovery. Born in London, to Sierra Leonean and Sierra Leonean-Lebanese parents, his recent series Keeper of the Flame, saw him return to Sierra Leone. His work, Boy, Somewhere in between Harar and Addis Ababa Ethiopia, 2018, is available as part of Earth Issue Freedom Fundraiser.
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Ngadi Smart
Ngadi Smart is a Sierra Leonean photographer and illustrator. Her work explores notions of identity, sexuality and feminism. And challenges Western preconceptions of African cultures. Her photograph, Amorphophallus Aphyllus, 2017 is still available to purchase as part of the Earth Issue Freedom Fundraiser.
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The Earth Issue Freedom Fundraiser runs for 30 days from June 5.
Feature images via Instagram: @harleyweir and @ronanksm
