Today we’d like to introduce you to Imani McCray.
Hi Imani, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Born in Baltimore Maryland 1992, the probability of me being dead or a negative statistic was inherited from birth. After being adopted to South Minneapolis and with the help of those who have come into my life, I have triumphed over those odds and wish it help others overcome their adversity. I believe progressive art aids social justice by using its polyrhythmic mediums to give form to the thoughts, needs, and pains of a broken society. As an advocate for social justice and an artist, my goal is to use impactful images, easily accessible copy, and strategic design to engage and inspire my audience. Passion, deception, faith, and spontaneity, are constant themes throughout our world. Navigating these experiences through different mediums is my attempt to shape this reality with imagination and passion. Photography and graphic design are the mediums I nurture as a way of bringing tangibility to my imagination.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Perseverance is my biggest challenge. Consciously remembering that every day is an opportunity to improve and discover a new path. Instead of seeing time passed as a meter of what I haven’t achieved and goals not yet completed.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My art progresses with my advocacy experience, and that has historically centered around racial and social equality. As I grow, I see those are not the world’s only pressing and unresolved issues of our time. There is an urgent need for the research and development of alternatives to harmful plastics. And, I am hoping to tell this story. As a photojournalist and graphic designer, and the creator of Be the Change magazine, I am using art and advocacy to facilitate change and engage people in creating a sustainable future for our planet.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
The lesson I am most grateful to have endured and learn is, that having to adapt isn’t personal it’s global. Routine went out the window and my mindset that lacked urgency, lulled by comfortability had to fight or flight. It has been a continuous fight against wishing for what was or could have been, and adapting to find the light of what it is.
Contact Info:
- Email: mccrayimani@gmail.com
- Website: https://www.faithnadarkroom.com/
- Instagram: @imanicraycray
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/imani.c.mccray/
Image Credits
Imani C. McCray
