Within the App

Within the App is a series of film and digital photos, along with a mural that captures the current lifeblood of Minneapolis. As someone who grew up on the South side of the city, I approach this project from a personal, local perspective, documenting the spaces, people, and everyday moments that shape the city’s culture. Following the I.C.E occupation this winter, many eyes have been on Minneapolis as a community. I attended several of the protests in January, where I witnessed the strength and unification of the people of Minneapolis, which inspired me to pursue this concept. The focus of this project is to show aspects of the city that people don’t see through the media, and more importantly to share moments that represent my childhood, and the people around me who have shaped the human I am at this point in my life. Over the course of this semester, I experienced numerous obstacles surrounding the creation of my piece. I shot four rolls of film, three of which came out unusable. This process has allowed me to embrace areas of weakness while continuing to move forward and grow as an artist. Within the App symbolizes the story of Minneapolis and points toward ideas of hope, embracing the reality of imperfection.