UW-Stevens Point is celebrating Black History Month with art installations in the Dreyfus University Center, 1015 Reserve St., Stevens Point. “Meet Your Neighbor” features the photography of John Nance and “Who Am I?” includes paintings by Stephon Kiba Freeman. Other displays include information on Black Wisconsin history and Martin Luther King Jr. The works are on display outside of the Laird Room on the second floor of the center through Wednesday, March 1, and may be viewed between 7:30 a.m. – 11 p.m.
John Nance, an aspiring photojournalist from Appleton, credits his upbringing for helping him connect deeply with others. He lived a bright and lively childhood. His mother was a teacher in Milwaukee, which gave him the opportunity to interact with many different types of people, such as educators, artists and entrepreneurs. His interest in photography began when Nance and his family moved to the Fox Valley, because he was inspired by the stories of others.
“Photography saved my life, kept me in order, intrigued in the world. The camera always made things brighter,” he said. Moving also allowed him to further develop his passion for photography, as he explored his new surroundings.
Nance’s exhibit at UW-Stevens Point, “Meet Your Neighbor,” is several multicultural stories and photographs of individuals in the Fox Valley, his version of the “Humans of New York” photography project on Facebook. The work gives diverse groups of people in the area an opportunity to express their story. He hopes this exhibit can be a way for people to bridge differences and unify with others.