I grew up in an all-white city. As a kid, I didn't understand the racial division in my city. To my young mind, I thought, “We are all the same inside.” When I was a teenager, my family moved and I went to a small private high school. Unlike my previous experience with racial division, there was lots of diversity at my high school. We respected each other. It was a brief window for me what living in harmony and mutual respect could be like.

Matilda Lynch, dancing to the Temptations

Fast forward to 2016's election year. I couldn't believe all the hatred that was coming out. I thought we as a society had made progress: Gay rights, an African American President of the United States! I thought we were headed towards the life I experienced in my teens during my high school years. You might be thinking, “Duh, Kim! Racism is real! Prejudice and oppression happen all the time!” But from my optimistic and hopeful mind, I was shocked.

In 2016, amidst all the hateful rhetoric, I felt compelled to do something. I wanted to give people a voice to share their life journey. I knew that if we heard others’ diverse stories, we could relate to their experiences. My goal was to share a gentle, celebratory human photo and video exhibit where we could break down the walls that separate us—including me.

We all have biases. These biases hold us back from getting to know each other and having compassion for one another.

Whenever we've “Othered” somebody else, we've reduced their humanity. This was an eye-opening lesson for me.

Derrick Billie couldn’t contain his Joy for life inside the frame! He believes failure is really winning in reverse.

IdentityRVA premiered after the 2016 election. It is a photography and video exhibit that focuses on the humanity in each of us as fellow human beings. With the exhibit, I seek to raise awareness and explore issues around how we are all more alike than we might think, despite our differences. IdentityRVA is also meant to start curious, respectful conversations, and live with a more open heart and mind.

Earlier this year, I premiered my second IdentityRVA exhibit at the JCC. The evening of the opening reception, we had a panel discussion with the participants. It was an incredible moment: a room full of people from different backgrounds and life experiences who came together for a common goal: to appreciate our differences and to connect as humans and having compassion for each other.

IdentityRVA_Paul Taylor_Kim Brundage Photo_122918_200.jpg

Tiffany Jana_KimBrundagePhotography_Identity_0118.jpg

I think of myself as open-minded. But hearing the participants speak brought my own biases to the surface. My IdentityRVA project opened me up further to work I get to do, and I am very thankful for that experience.

Today, we've watched history being made in our streets. Hopefully, policies will change, monuments will come down, streets will be renamed and we will take serious strides towards living in an equal and compassionate environment.

I invite you to follow the link to my IdentityRVA exhibit and look at the portraits. See if you can connect someone who you can become more curious about. Watch the videos. Discover what resonates. Every person inspired me to have more courage to be myself. I love how Derrick Billie says that "Failure is really winning in reverse." And how Wafa Noble says, "When you are true to yourself, the world responds back by being truer to you."

I couldn't have done this multi-year project without the help of Sue Kindred of SK Consulting and Memories Videography.

The next exhibit space is at the Richmond Public Library on Friday, January 1st, 2021.