Review: The diversity and beauty of the South shines in ‘This is Somewhere’ at Haugabrooks Gallery

The atmosphere was booming on June 20 during the opening reception of aKAZ!.Atl’s This is Somewhere, on view now at Haugabrooks Gallery along Historic Auburn Avenue. The exhibit features works by artists and spouses Iman Sebunya and Craig Lou, who have captured the essence of Atlanta and New Orleans in dynamic photographs. On opening night, the DJ spun tunes that paid homage to both places, such as “When the Saints Go Marching In,” while people laughed, talked and gushed over the vibrant photography on view. 

In the selection on view, Lou expertly captures Atlanta with all of its bright lights, busyness and chaos but also highlights the city in quieter and more peaceful moments. Through his photography, he takes viewers from hot spots to hidden treasures. I was particularly fond of his Atlanta Globe series, where he uses drones to document Atlanta from above and then bends the photos using software, resulting in a captivating and unique view of the city.

Lou shared his inspiration behind the globes: “I always wanted to be a pilot growing up. That calling passed me by, and I ended up being a software engineer. I was always tied to aviation somehow,” said Lou. “When drones came out, I thought it was perfect — I could get my aviation fix. I started taking pictures. With my software engineering background, I was looking into programs and figured out how you can manipulate and bend images into what you want to create, and I figured out how to make these globes. It captures everything. It’s a memory — a snapshot of a memory in time.” 

In some works, holes in chain link fences are pulled open to expose the viewers to scenes of Atlanta traffic and MARTA trains. In one notable piece, a heart is etched into a pole that holds together the chain link fence, beyond which you can also see a blurred city building in the background, reminding us that we can find love — and feel the heart of a city — in the most unassuming places.

Meanwhile, Sebunya’s images of New Orleans showcase the movement of parades and candid moments, with kids and adults playing instruments, lost in the moments of celebration and revelry. One black-and-white image shows a man in a polka-dot suit lying prone on the ground in the middle of the parade. To me, it felt like a bit of calm in the midst of joyous chaos. Though presented as still images, Sebunya’s works highlight movement, action and life.

Additionally, she captures Black Masking Native Americans. The subjects of these colorful portraits wear vibrant, bright and elaborate outfits. 

“A lot goes on behind the scenes in terms of their costumes, how they build that out and how they pay homage to Native Americans that helped them when escaping slavery,” said Sebunya. “They come out maybe three times a year — on Mardi Gras morning and on Saint Joseph’s Night,” she explained. One piece features nine photos of Black Maskings, from which viewers can really see the variety of the outfits and the array of colors. It’s almost like looking at a rainbow. The garments and colorful pieces take up most of the frame, with the faces of the Black Maskings oriented toward the center. The result is a truly beautiful composition that clearly illustrates the  diaspora and transnationalism that are so essential to her work.

“I’ve lived in New Orleans for around seven years on and off,” said Sebunya. “I love New Orleans because it’s a real gumbo of different cultures and identities, all coming together with their history. I also grew up most of my life in Africa, and I can see some of the African traditions showing up there.” Sebunya is drawn to places that are diverse and have rich culture, history and tradition. “In New Orleans, there’s a living history that happens there, whether it’s with Second Lines or the Black Masking Indians, you’re going to see that and all of the different kinds of components coming together within that.” It’s all focused on Black resistance, joy, living culture and traditions, history and people coming together in community to show out and have fun, but in a way that is unique to New Orleans.

This is Somewhere is also the name of Lou’s YouTube page, and this exhibition’s theme was born out of that vision. “I have a YouTube channel that just passed a year old,” Lou shared. “It started as photography and moved into something way bigger than my wildest dreams. I travel to different places and showcase the culture, the food, the people. My channel is not about me at all. It’s about places — real stories — and allowing people who might not get the chance to travel to actually hear how people sound in different places around the world . . . and letting them tell their stories.”

Founders and curators Anja and Jumbe Sebunya described this exhibition as a “family affair,” with Anja stating, “We often get help from our unpaid laborers, our kids,” who help out at the gallery. “But this time it’s an uber family affair because we are showcasing our daughter’s work, and that is Iman Sebunya, whose work is a love letter to New Orleans, and our soon-to-be son-in-law, Craig Lou, who is this YouTube personality now,” said Anja. “Together, they have brought this show to life.” 

“This is one of the shows we have been looking forward to, focusing on Atlanta and New Orleans, two cities that have been our homes for a long time,” said Jumbe with pride. “Our daughter is a great photographer, so we are pleased to see some of the selections she is showing. Her husband-to-be is also a great photographer. Combining them both, we thought we could show Atlanta to the world and another big city in the South: New Orleans.”

This show is particularly special to Iman because it’s her first real show and her first time exhibiting her work in Atlanta. “It’s special that it’s happening on Juneteenth because it’s about Black resistance, joy, community, coming together and the beauty that is Black American culture here and all that it has to offer,” said Iman. She thanked Craig, her parents, and her best friend for pushing her to display her work versus keeping it to herself. In light of the World Cup and Atlanta being the focus for so many right now, they felt it was pertinent to use this exhibition to turn their gaze inward, showcasing the spirit and magic of two historic Southern cities.

This is Somewhere will remain on view at Haugabrooks Gallery until August 2.

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Jhazzmyn Joiner (aka Jhazzy) is a writer, poet and creative spirit with a soft spot for storytelling that uplifts community voices. She’s the editor-in-chief of Three Panels Press and leads communications at L’Arche Atlanta. With a background in gerontology, media and making meaning out of everyday moments, her work lives at the intersection of art, equity and expression. A singer, traveler and lover of bold ideas, she’s often deep in a playlist, scribbling a poem or wandering an art show, dreaming up her next big project.