Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Molyneaux.
Brian, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
I have been shooting for many years and I have a lot of stories but for this interview I can talk about a current project that I’m working on. Cool? I have been photographing/making portraits of different people I meet on the street wherever I am every day for 2 1/2 years for a project I call My One A Day.
I meet people where there are in that moment and I immediately befriend, create connection, blur the boundaries that we all hold, and create thoughtful and engaging photographs. I photograph at least one person everyday but often times more. I started this project on January 6, 2016 and I have no end date in sight. I photograph mostly on the street but also in cafes, beaches, parks, etc. As of now I think it has been over 1,000 people. I have photographed in Chicago, Oakland, New York, LA, and many other places.
I have a deep desire to connect with people of many different cultures and backgrounds and I seek this connection daily. I feel like I am making the world a little smaller each and every day. I am grateful for my project and I love doing it. I create connections with people I didn’t know before I approached them in a world that seems at times more and more disconnected. Some of the people I meet with share with me their stories and allow me to bare witness to whatever is going on for them.
On a technical note, I photograph at all different times of day and night, using a manual 50mm lens on a digital body. I get my shot in less than 24 frames, and usually within 2-5 minutes. I have deliberately put these constraints on myself and feel that they are working in my favor.
There’s a lot more to tell, like why I’m doing this, my focus on the diversity of people that I see everywhere, and the benefits of connecting with people on a daily basis. If you’re interested maybe we can talk on the phone sometime (it’s probably easier for me to talk about this than write it). I am creating content, curating this project, and posting to Instagram and Facebook every day. It is all on my Instagram (link below).
Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think things have always been tricky for artists in the US. Today or ever. I do not want to focus on this negatively though. It has always been a balance between creating something of beauty and making money and paying the rent. It is not a linear path but with persistence it can be a sustainable one.
Cities could help by making art a priority for its citizens. Teaching an appreciation of art and how to create art are vital to civilization. It allows us to express what we are all doing in this human experience and to connect more with our fellow human beings.
Contact Info:
- Website: brianmolyneaux.com
- Email: brian@brianmolyneaux.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianmolyneaux/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brianmolyneaux
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/bmolyneaux
- Other: https://www.workbook.com/portfolios/view/brian_molyneaux, https://bit.ly/2s1cg8f
Image Credit:
© Brian Molyneaux, 2018 All Rights Reserved
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