Today we’d like to introduce you to Harvey Pullings.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and raised on the Southside of Chicago, within the neighborhoods of both Chatham and Princeton Parks. I was fortunate enough to see both the inner city of Chicago (Chatham) and a suburban like lifestyle (Princeton), which came with a variety of difference in city living. Growing up with a weak immune system, caused me to put a lot of time into reading and learning things during the cold months of Chicago. Summer time was my active period, but once winter came, I would have to stay inside to avoid catching severe colds and seasonal bugs. This is when I started to learn about and take interest in watching movies, gaming, literature and a lot of music. It definitely was a very informative period of my life, and I couldn’t tell you the whole story without taking up an entire page [laughs].
Please tell us about your art.
My photography and film work is based on the world that I both grew up in, and the works that enjoyed reading and watching. My street photography is based on the scenery of the inner city, which embraces the atmosphere of Black communities and Chicagoans. I don’t go out of my way to polish the imagery of the Southside and aspects of the city that are often downplayed or misrepresented. These are areas and people with long, complicated histories, and I shoot with the intent to capture the humanity and vulnerability of the their lives. Being Black in America, let alone in Chicago, is difficult beyond words, and I would hope my work speaks for those who feel misrepresented. I was inspired by the works of Gordon Parks, Khalik Allah and Roy DeCarava, with how they capture urban life in their respected perspectives, and I work to capture that essence for my city as well.
As far as my film work goes, my narrative preferences are a combination of both my experiences in Chicago, as well as my imagination of the environments I grew up in. The city has inspired me in so many ways, and I want to present Chicago as something that is both inhabitable and haunting at the same time. I hope people see my films and my photography, and feel an emotional connection to my tales. Even if someone can’t personally connect, I hope they at the very least take away that life is complicated, but we are all still human.
We often hear from artists that being an artist can be lonely. Any advice for those looking to connect with other artists?
As cynical as it may sound, you have to embrace that loneliness sometimes as an artist. Maybe that’s different for me, because of my subject matter and how I see the world of my work. But, I feel like social media helps, showcases and other social outings centered around art helps connect folks who need that human interaction.
I am always open to meeting fellow artists, collaborating with them and building friendships. But, I personally think some projects require you to have to shut the world out for periods of time. But, yeah. [laughs]
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
If you’re looking to see my work, keep up with the updates on my portfolio site, harveypullingsii.com . I am in the process of working on a new film, and my first photo gallery, so anyone interested in helping with the finding process, please keep up with my social media posts and site updates. Messaging me will always get a quick response, and I love talking with folks who inquire about my work, its meanings and how they can contribute. Not just financially, but just by being a part of the discussion.
Contact Info:
- Website: harveypullingsii.com
- Phone: 7085391862
- Email: the79thstreetkid@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the79thstreetkid/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/the79thstreetkid/
Image Credit:
To those with Good Intent scenes:
Directed by: Harvey Pullings, II
Cinematography by: Brice Pardo
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