Anna Mia Davidson
Art Mediums: Medium Format, 35mm, Balck & White & Color Film Photography, Digital Photography, Archival Silver Gelatin Fiber Prints, Archival Giclee Prints, audio capture
Anna Mia Davidson is a Seattle based artist, born in NYC. It was in her childhood home darkroom that she learned to master the fine art of photography from her father, a Magnum Photos photographer. Her early years were surrounded by the powerful photographic medium she adopted as her tool for social change. Photographer Gordon Parks’ Farm Service Administration images were an important early influence, inspiring her commitment to social justice issues using her camera. Being a Jewish woman has also had a profound impact on her activism, this sense of moral responsibility is the catalyst for choosing the topics of focus for her work as exemplified by her published books; Cuba Black And White (Steidl), and Human Nature: Sustainable Farming in the Pacific Northwest (Minor Matters). Her exhibitions have included museums, galleries, and public arts installations. She has been commissioned by Aperture, USA Television Network and Fotodocument and was the recipient of the Portrait Of Humanity People’s Choice Award. Her works have been acquired by the Zoelner Art Center and City of Seattle’s permanent collections. Davidson was selected as 2016 Arts Envoy under the Obama Administration, and was an Artist in Residence at Photo Center Northwest. Davidson teaches photography workshops and has lectured at Annenberg Space For Photography, Seattle Town Hall, Photographic Center Northwest and Internationally.
I believe in the power of images to influence, inspire, and impact the way we see the world around us. My responsibility as an image maker is to provide an alternative to the mainstream. As an artist I focus on social justice and environmental issues. My work is informed by the issues of our times. I often seek community based organizations and individuals within the communities I photograph to become project allies and to help deepen the perspective within my work. My two published books and public arts commissioned projects reflect this focus on long-term photographic bodies of work. From subjects like positive remnants of the Cuban Revolution in post ‘Special-Period’ Cuba to the Sustainable Agricultural movement depicted through local Washington Farmer portraits, the long term project subjects I choose are always a reflection of the social justice and environmental issues of our times. Within the photographic medium I choose the best tools for each project individually, working in black and white, color, medium format, 35 mm, film and digital. My newest long-term project is a color portrait series in response to the 2016 Muslim Ban and growing issue of Islamophobia. It is imperative to flip the dialogue and highlight the inspiring women within the American Muslim community to help raise awareness, challenge stereotypes, and foster peaceful coexistence. My current body of work focuses on young American Muslim women of the millennial generation in Washington State. I incorporate sound recording to create detailed captions as each young woman photographed also has shared through interview her thoughts on how she would like to be seen in America and about her personal passion. Each woman was photographed in context of something she is passionate about whether it be kickboxing, organic farming, Violin etc…By focusing on the positive we can begin to change the narrative. Each image is paired with her words. Together, image and text create a visually powerful collection of documentation of American Muslim young women in greater King County.