August 16th, 2023
MANKATO – On June 24th, 25th and July 9th of 2023. Josh Madson Photographed 800+ individuals and families in Mankato, MN for an upcoming printed exhibition called the “Mankato Community Collage” Participants were promised a free photo for their participation in the collage. Josh and team sent photos to participants immediately following their photo session.
The community response was astronomical. It far exceeded any expectation from Josh and the volunteers of the Mankato Community Collage shoots. During and immediately after the shoots social media began to light up with images of participants. It began to spread like wild fire. Positivity beamed from all who participated, watched and gathered. Josh’s vision and goal being to bring community together through art seemingly being brought to fruition.
“Basically, to be human we want to be seen and heard and acknowledged and feel like a contribution. It could be as simple as just saying like hey, you know what? Who you are is beautiful. What if that made a difference to stop someone from going out and saying something hurtful to someone else? What I wanted to see with this project is like, here’s the best foot forward. Everyone and anyone please come and be a part of this because you are just as valid as anyone else. Your voice is welcome here and we can probably all learn from each other.” -Josh Madson
- What: An exhibition of a three dimensional photographic collage of the greater Mankato area community.
- When: EXHIBITION: MANKATO COMMUNITY COLLAGE opening reception will take place on Sept 1st from 6p-9p, The exhibition will continue to run until Sept 30, 2023
FB event link: https://fb.me/e/2O6eLYjv4 - Where: The Coffee Hag, 329 N Riverfront Dr. Mankato, MN 56001
The AFTER PARTY: MANKATO COMMUNITY COLLAGE will take place the same evening,
Sept 1st 9p-11p, one night only, Number 4 Steakhouse, 124 E Walnut St. Mankato, MN 56001
FB event link: https://fb.me/e/5IIrUlr6E
About Mankato Community Collage
The Mankato Community Collage project was created by local resident and photographer Josh Madson as a way to showcase the diversity and harmony of the Mankato community. Following two complimentary photo shoots for Mankato community members of from all walks of life, cultures and socio-economic backgrounds, more than 800 portraits were shot and will be displayed in a gallery show at the Coffee Hag throughout the month of September 2023. Community members were photographed during a 2-minute photoshoot, with a classic black and white portrait style to give more emphasis to the faces and personality of the participants. The photos will be printed for a floor-to-ceiling photo collage art installation at the Coffee Hag, creating an immersive experience where participants and exhibit attendees can feel a sense of joy and pride to be a part the vast abundance of diversity and greatness that exists within this community.
About Josh Madson: Josh Madson is a dynamic, prolific photographer/director/DP who works internationally from various home-bases in LA, NYC and Tokyo. Josh was born and raised in Minnesota before relocating to Los Angeles in 2005. During the pandemic, Josh relocated back to Minnesota to be closer to family. Shortly after returning to Minnesota Josh’s family decided to move to Mankato. Josh has resided in Mankato for approximately 2 years and now considers it to be a new home base. In 2018 and 2019, Josh directed motion campaigns for OPI, Goop, Beauty Counter and Murad. To see Josh’s reel, click here. Josh works with and has had works published in a diverse mix of top-tier, global enterprises and publications, such as: L’OREAL, NYX, goop, Murad, Beauty Counter, ipsy, Proctor & Gamble, COTY, Clairol, Bank of America, Nike, VOGUE Girl, Elle, SELF, Esquire, InStyle, Macy’s, G- Tech, Target, Hitachi, Mac, amongst many others.
http://www.joshmadson.comwww.instagram.com/instajoshmadsonwww.facebook.com/JoshMadsonPhoto