photo by Michael Wright
By Gayla Ellis
Powderhorn Park neighborhood in Minneapolis is a vast array of people, plants, creatures, scenes, and activities. Often the media portray us as criminals or as victims of crime. Amy Wurdock set out to counter these perceptions. She organized six others and herself to photograph the neighborhood. Since January 1, 2009, Powderhorn365 photographers have posted one photo on the blog per day. Each year has a new weekly team and a pool of guest photographers. The project is now halfway through its fourth year and has recently been approved as a program of Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association (PPNA).
Being a P-365 photographer is a unique experience. It is up to that one person to decide which photo gets posted for his or her day. We maintain our autonomy as artists but welcome input from the community. We need to open our eyes to see what is around us and use our cameras to try to show this to others. Ephraim Eusebio, a 2010 weekly photographer, wrote this about Powderhorn365: “This project was amazing to participate in and I am so much more in touch with my neighbors.” Each photographer has their own story about the experiences.
We present an exhibit at the Powderhorn Art Fair every year. We invite you to see what we have this year. A new development is that some P-365 photographers volunteered to take photos for art fair history. Books will be available for viewing or for sale at the event.
The 2011 book features:
- Joey Ford, Rhonda Kist, Satya Varghese Mac, Sadie McKinley, and Michael Wright for the entire year, Anders Gurda for the first half, and Kate Zwicky for the last half.
- Guest photographers added their own perspectives to the collection.
- Aria Dominguez designed the book, and Amy Wurdock, Aria, and Gayla Ellis edited it.
- The book is dedicated to the memory of our beloved poet, Roy McBride.
Our books are available for sale at PPNA. We welcome donations to help support the project by volunteer photographers. Purchases or donations may be made online. or check with the PPNA office at 821 East 35th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55407, 612-722-4817. The Hennepin County Libraries have also purchased books for branch libraries, so check with your library.
Please look at our blog at www.powderhorn365.com. We are on Facebook. Look at our collection of photos. See what is emerging from the cameras and imagination of our group for 2012, namely Guthrie Byard, Chrys Carroll, Alexandra Ellison, Michael Flood, Rebecca Lawrence, Ann Silver, and Jane Stoller, as well as guest photographers. If you are interested in being a guest photographer, have something youd like us to photograph, or have questions, please contact us at powderhorn365 [at] gmail.com.
