©Anna Mia Davidson, Mennah, 19 years old, born in Washington State, USA Political Science and Middle East Studies Student Middle Eastern Student Commission Director Passion: Kickboxing “People are always surprised that I kick box. Part of that is because my hijab is the only thing that defines who I am to people, and even though it’s a conscious choice and I make it to present myself as visually Muslim, I think it’s good to remember that everyone has layers to them and they aren’t always what you’d expect. I’d like to be seen as all of it; a political scientist, a representative of my community, a muslim, a female, politically active, I like to kick box, and I perform poetry, and I like to do all these things people wouldn’t expect.”

Congratulations to Anna Mia Davidson for being selected for CENTER’s Socially Engaged Award recognizing her project, American Muslim. The Socially Engaged Award recognizes work addressing social issues. All projects exploring social topics or themes are eligible.The Grant includes Review Santa Fe participation, a Group Exhibition at CENTER, Publication in LENSCRATCH, Professional Development Seminars access, Inclusion in the printed Program Guide, and Inclusion in the Winners Gallery & Archive.

Juror: Jeffrey Henson Scales, Photography Editor, The New York Times shares his thoughts on this selection:

Getting to judge the amazing collection of projects submitted to the Center’s Socially Engaged Award was an inspiring look at an incredibly wide variety of contemporary photographic artists addressing the mission of creating a body of work that is truly socially engaging. It was not easy to narrow these down to the half dozen or so that were at top of my list, and even harder to settle on just one.

Ultimately the project, “American Muslim,” was the project that I felt wove together the strongest use of the collaborative tools of cross-cultural social engagement. The beauty of compelling documentary photographic practice, along with the prominence of the subject’s own voices included front and center is seamless and makes for a well-crafted and thorough presentation.

At this moment in America’s narrative arc are there aren’t many more important issues than the understanding and acceptance of the full diversity of modern America and the world. With Islamophobia on the rise, ‘American Muslim’ pushes the viewer to engage and see these American women for what they are as Americans. ‘American Muslim’ presents a much-needed counter narrative arc than that of the xenophobic, misogynist, and racist narrative of the current government’s course.

‘American Muslim’ utilizes the photographic lens and first-person narrative interview quotes to illuminate American Muslim women from the millennial and Gen-Z generations, placing them into the artistic and socially engaged foreground honestly, elegantly and without artifice.

This project beautifully presents a positive narrative of American women who are of the Islamic faith in photographs and words by presenting their diversity, passions and talents, like, kickboxing, neuroscience, farming, music, Skateboarding, community service and so many more.

The subjects themselves own voices sum up so much of what so strong about them, as well as this project.

‘Amna’ states, “I strive to be seen as any other person. Just because I wear the hijab doesn’t mean I’m different. There’s a lot of stereotypes around it, the hijab is not a defining factor.”

Or another,Rimsha, “I would like to be seen as an independent Muslim woman that does not depend on a male figure and is not oppressed.”

The artist, a Jewish woman has succeeded in so many of her intents with this project and in her own words sums up her intent to address another pressing global issue, “While deeply personal, the work also dialogues with broader histories of misunderstood communities, women, and the careful relationship between Jewish and Muslim women, coming together in the name of art and finding common ground, challenging the viewer to confront their own position within these narratives…”  

Bravo!

Juror Bio:

Henson Scales is an award-winning New York Times photography editor who has been co-editor of the annual Year in Pictures special section for over a dozen years and he also created and curated the photography column, “Exposures,” which was a photo essay column that ran in the Opinion section from 2011-2023. A photographer and author of three books of photographs, the most recent “In A Time of Panthers, The Early Photographs.” is an archive Mr. Henson Scales made as a teenager in Oakland of the Black Panther Party in the 60s. He also is a professor of photojournalism at New York University.

©Anna Mia Davidson, Ayan, from American Muslim

American Muslim

Since the 2017 U.S. Muslim Ban, this color photographic portrait project has aimed to challenge negative stereotypes and biases, foster understanding, and promote social change. As an American Jewish woman and photographic artist, I feel a strong sense of moral responsibility to shed light on humanity and build bridges cross culturally. This body of work seeks to shift the narrative surrounding American Muslim women by showcasing diverse passions and talents; kickboxing, neuroscience, farming, music, Skateboarding and more, through compelling visual color photographic portraits paired with personal interview texts. Each woman featured shares her own words on how she wishes to be seen and what she hopes people will understand about her identity. The work is situated in a tradition of socially engaged photography. While deeply personal, the work also dialogues with broader histories of misunderstood communities, women, and the careful relationship between Jewish and Muslim women, coming together in the name of art and finding common ground, challenging the viewer to confront their own position within these narratives.

In this historical moment marked by xenophobia, war in the Middle East, polarization, hate crimes, and disconnect, this work aims to carve out a space for connection, reflection, and is deeply human. A body of work dedicated to the commitment to visual experimentation, critical engagement, and emotional resonance. American Muslim is an invitation to reconsider the boundaries between pre-conceived notions and new found understandings and ultimately bring this under-represented subject into the artistic foreground.

MEDIUM
Archival Pigment Prints 36″ x 42”

©Anna Mia Davidson, Sisters, from American Muslim

Anna Mia Davidson is a freelance photographer based in Seattle, Washington. She believes strongly in the power of images to influence, inspire, and impact the way we see the world around us.

Anna Mia Davidson has photographed worldwide. She has been documenting the positive aspects of Cuban society since 1999 and was awarded sponsorship by the Blue Earth Alliance. Her photographic work has been awarded several honors from juried exhibitions and publication competitions including the Talent and Creativity Award for Photojournalism, the Cesar Chavez Certificate for Commitment to Justice, Diversity, and Nonviolence from the University of Colorado, and the 2004 Golden Light Top Photographers Award for Documentary photography.

She has exhibited her photographs both nationally and internationally. When she is not working on her own photographic projects, Anna Mia Davidson works for many different international news and magazine publications such as Vanity Fair, The New York Times, Christian Science Monitor, Associated Press, Reader’s Digest, AARP and The International Herald Tribune as well as various commercial clients.

Instagram: @annamiadavidson

©Anna Mia Davidson, Samina, 19 years old, born in Washington State, USA Political Science Student Plays Trumpet in the UW Husky Marching Band Passion: The Trumpet “I am really passionate about my trumpet, being in band and music. I started in the fifth grade and it has been a huge part of my life ever since. I want to be seen just as anybody else. I am Muslim but I am also an American. I’ve grown up here, I’ve lived here my entire life. I have goals and ambitions just like anybody else.”

©Anna Mia Davidson, Rimsha, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Owla, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Ayah, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Amna, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Rabail, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Vanisha, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Aniya, 19 years old, born in Washington State, USA Phycology and Communications Student Passion: Violin ” I want to be viewed as someone who is not dangerous, like everyone else, even though my faith is different”, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Faduomo, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Nura, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Zarah, from American Muslim

©Anna Mia Davidson, Alizay and Rabail, from American Muslim