In the grief and protest following the deaths of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd at the hands of police, only the latest of countless senseless deaths of Black people, we stand with Black Lives Matter for the dismantling of systemic racism, and against white supremacy. We have seen people come together to challenge one another to ask difficult questions about our society and ourselves, to firmly acknowledge centuries of injustice, violence and inequity for Black people, and to take action to maintain the momentum needed for changes in consciousness, policy and opportunity required for us as a society to transform for the better.

Since its inception, Fraction has showcased thoughtful photographic projects from a global community with an emphasis on inclusivity and diversity of perspectives from artists from a wide range of cultural and ethnic backgrounds, gender and sexual expressions, religious beliefs, socioeconomic statuses, and geographical locations. The heart of these efforts is to learn from one another, to broaden our awareness as best we can and to deepen our sense of community.

We recognize that Fraction is, in our small way, a gatekeeper, and we also recognize that photographers’ works often come to our attention due to a larger system of gatekeeping in photographic media that reinforces itself and has traditionally served privileged perspectives. While we pride ourselves on our diligence for sharing a broad range of work, we recognize that our own editorial voices are narrow and informed by our own biases, and that we can do better.

Informed by this position, we are doing two things moving forward:
- We make a pledge to share our platform with Black artists and curators and those bringing perspectives that are under-represented in Fraction specifically and in photography more broadly, through calls for proposals and invitations.
- We are running a fundraising print sale to help raise support for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. We will continue to host fundraising opportunities to support other organizations doing crucial work to serve under-represented communities.

Without visibility and celebration of diverse experiences and points of view, we collapse into orthodoxies. True imagination and understanding are supplanted by adherence to the status quo, and rules congeal around fixed ideas of what photography can be and do, and who it is by and for. To this end, we are committed to being anti-racist and exploring photography with you, our community, as a means to understanding, and through understanding, compassion, advocacy and justice.

View the Print Sale Fundraiser for the NAACP Legal Defense Fund

Issue 135 - June 2020

Issue 135 features portfolios from the very talented Rapheal Begay, Chen Xiangyun, Elizabeth M. Claffey and Emily Wiethorn, as well as a review of Wig Heavier Than a Boot, a beautiful collection of photographs and poems by David Johnson and Philip Matthews. We are also happy to feature the zine Pardon My Creep by Kellye Eisworth and Britland Tracy. Charcoal Book Club’s June book is Girl Pictures by Justine Kurland. Our Managing Editor, Bree Lamb is pleased to be the RefrigeCurator for the Curated Fridge’s Summer Call “Little Wins,” wish submissions open through June 27th. Our friends at COVID Pictures are accepting work on a rolling basis. We are grateful to our artists and collaborators and to our entire photo community of friends and colleagues. Wishing peace for each of you.

In solidarity,

Your friends at Fraction