MINJIMENDAN (REMEMBER)

MINJIMENDAN/REMEMBER honors the legacy of Nīa MacKnight’s great grandfather John B. McGillis through an interpretation of historical photographs, letters, and other material objects that he left behind. These photographs examine the complexities that McGillis faced as an Anishinaabe man navigating early 20th-century assimilation policies, as well as his devotion to expanding access for his people through acts of self-determination and joy. By weaving together moments of the past and the present through monochromatic imagery, MacKnight seeks to convey the power of ancestral memories to transcend time, form and place.

Thank you to my relatives for contributing your memories, knowledge, and insight to this project.

Artist Bios

Nīa MacKnight

Nīa MacKnight is a lens-based artist and educator based in Tongva Territory (Los Angeles, California). Her camera forges a space where conceptual and documentary genres meet to transform scenes of daily life into sites for healing. By turning to the paradigms of her Anishinaabe/Lakhóta/Scottish ancestry, she examines narratives of self-determination within urban modes of existence.

MacKnight holds a Bachelor’s in Psychology from Cal State University Dominguez Hills, and a Master’s in Education from Cal State University Long Beach and has served as faculty at Los Angeles Unified School District, Idyllwild Arts Academy, and Wildwood School. Her commissioned work has been featured in publications such as The New Yorker, High Country News, The New York Times, Al Jazeera, and HuffPost.

Organizations

Photoville

Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.

In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.

By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.

Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.

For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com
Leica Camera

Ignite your passion for photography with Leica Camera at Photoville

Discover the allure of Leica photography at Photoville through curated photowalks complemented by a Leica on Loan program. From action photography to environmental portraiture, you’ll experience Leica photography and guidance by acclaimed Leica photographers.

Leica Camera is founded on a tradition of optical excellence and a conscious focus on the essentials of exquisite image making. For over a century, the brand has motivated visual storytelling through the quintessential union of craftsmanship, design and experience, providing essential tools that influence the art, culture and creation of photography. Photoville attendees can see this firsthand at the Leica Pavilion, which will showcase a one-of-a-kind photographic experience through a variety of interactive Leica activities designed to ignite your passion for photography.

https://leicacamerausa.com/