Celestia Morgan, American
Titusville, 2019
Titusville by Celestia Morgan depicts an outline of the redlined neighborhoods in Birmingham, Alabama, overlaid with the sky of that area. I believe this image effectively captures the invisible threats of redlining. Observing an area, one might not assume there would be any air quality or environmental issues, but the history of discrimination that created them has an invisible hand on the community that will persist if not addressed. This image reminds me to be aware of the possible injustices around us and not forget why they are there. Label by Jackson Smith
The Titusville photograph is a part of a collection of various sky photographs that together make Morgan’s series Sky Maps. In this series, Morgan overlays sections of maps that depict relined neighborhoods in Birmingham from the 1933 Home Owner’s Loan Corporation onto photographs of bright blue skies and dreamy clouds. Sky Maps, including Titusville, critically examine the physical boundaries of redlining compared to the hopes and aspirations of people living in redlined communities. The clear sky photographs can also juxtapose the air pollution that surrounds areas that were previously relined. If the sky is truly the limit, then hope exists for working towards a future that breaks redlined boundaries and prioritizes environmental justice for all communities. Label by Bayleigh Albert