Joshua Rashaad McFadden

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City Magazine Review: Protest is personal in Joshua Rashaad McFadden's Eastman Museum art show

City Magazine in Rochester, NY, featured an in-depth story on my exhibition "I Believe I'll Run On" at the George Eastman Museum, emphasizing the personal and emotional impact of my work. Amanda Chestnut highlighted how the exhibition moved her to tears, a rare experience for her as a photographer and curator. The exhibit, with its dark walls and dim lights, welcomed Black viewers and challenged white viewers to shift their perspectives, asserting the rightful presence of Black art in a traditionally white-dominated museum setting.

The article underscored the rarity of receiving a retrospective so early in my career, given that I was only 31 at the time. It traced my journey from documenting the 2020 social uprising in Rochester after the killing of Daniel Prude to covering protests in Minneapolis, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. Chestnut detailed my commitment to capturing the raw, unfiltered emotions of protestors, often working with little sleep to document these historic moments. The coverage emphasized my dedication to using photography as a tool for social justice and the personal connection I feel to the events and individuals I document.

Through comprehensive documentation and a strong narrative, the feature in City Magazine amplified the significance of my work in contemporary photography. It highlighted how my personal experiences and professional dedication intersect, driving my mission to portray the depth of Black life and the intensity of the fight against racial injustice. This media attention reinforced the impact of my work, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of the critical issues I explore through my art.