Interviews - I See My Light Shining

Interviews

836 Hours

Oral history interviews are firsthand testimonies of people’s experiences of history. These interviews invite narrators (interviewees) to talk about their own histories, giving unparalleled insights into life decisions, actions, and experiences that may not already be part of the public record.

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    Ellery Bakaitis

    Brooklyn-raised graffiti artist advocating for queer communities of color

    Brooklyn, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Ellery Bakaitis

    Bakaitis delves into their journey from Brooklyn graffiti artist to New Orleans drag wrestler, their queer identity, the impact of waterfront graffiti, and navigating life's changes amid familial and societal challenges.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Brooklyn, NY

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    Lola Flash

    Photographer, ACT UP activist, and Fire Island chronicler

    New York City, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Lola Flash

    Flash details her journey from Montclair to Manhattan, delving into her childhood, passion for photography, experiences in LGBTQ+ communities, her transformative years in London, activism, relationships, and art practice.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York City, NY

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    Lyle Harris

    Multimedia artist

    New York, NY

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Lyle Harris

    Harris reflects on his upbringing in the Bronx, transformative years in Tanzania, his family and their involvement in anti-apartheid activism, experiences in Provincetown and Martha's Vineyard, and evolution as a photographer.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    New York, NY

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    Every Ocean Hughes

    Interdisciplinary multimedia artist, writer, and art professor

    Stockholm, SE

    Jenna "J" Wortham
    Collection

    Every Ocean Hughes

    Hughes reflects on the influence of early personal losses, her journey through grief, and the transformative process of changing her name. She also discusses queer spaces and water's thematic presence in her life and work.

    Jenna "J" Wortham collection

    Stockholm, SE

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    # Oklahoma

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    Sandra Jackson-Dumont

    Curator, art historian, and promoter of Black history and culture

    Los Angeles, CA

    Robin Coste Lewis
    Collection

    Sandra Jackson-Dumont

    Jackson Dumont reflects on growing up Black in San Francisco, her education, impactful roles in the art and museum worlds, including the Met and Seattle Art Museum, and dedication to integrating Blackness in her work.

    Robin Coste Lewis collection

    Los Angeles, CA

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    Christine Kim

    Influential curator focusing on artists of color and modern technology

    Los Angeles, CA

    Robin Coste Lewis
    Collection

    Christine Kim

    Kim details her upbringing in the Bay Area, her parents' immigrant journey, her work at Harlem's Studio Museum, her exploration of Black and Asian art, and recent projects that aim to memorialize and celebrate community histories.

    Robin Coste Lewis collection

    Los Angeles, CA

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    Patric McCoy

    Retired environmental scientist, art collector, and documenter of Black gay life

    Chicago, IL

    Eve Ewing
    Collection

    Patric McCoy

    McCoy details his experiences as a civil servant, inadvertent photojournalist, and prominent art curator and collector. He reflects on his childhood in Chicago as well as the profound impact of his father's artistic dreams.

    Eve Ewing collection

    Chicago, IL

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    Joy Simmons

    Renowned art collector, philanthropist, physician, and mentor

    Los Angeles, CA

    Robin Coste Lewis
    Collection

    Joy Simmons

    Simmons reflects on becoming a notable art collector, radiologist, and advocate for African and African-American art, from her upbringing in Los Angeles to her commitment to mentoring future collectors.

    Robin Coste Lewis collection

    Los Angeles, CA

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    Nitza Tufiño

    Muralist, activist, and founder of El Museo del Barrio

    New York City, NY

    Denice Frohman
    Collection

    Nitza Tufiño

    Tufiño shares her life journey as a visual artist, educator, and activist. She reflects on her Puerto Rican and Mexican heritage, her transformative love story with her wife, and the career challenges and triumphs she has faced.

    Denice Frohman collection

    New York City, NY

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    ‘There's a lot of work yet to be done.’
    Kent Ford
    curtain