Zebadiah Arrington

As a student from the South side of Chicago, hip-hop programs gave me a chance to explore my urban surroundings and meet educators from all over. I ventured from the north to south, east to west, in this city to meet and become close with those whom continue to inspire me.

The community centers I devoted my time to such as The University Of Hip-Hop, Alternatives inc., and the South West Youth Collaborative, put me in contact with amazing artists in New York, Oakland, Berlin, Paris, and many other cities where I have since ventured to take photographs and explore cultures.

As I started to take an interest in the arts, it was natural to pick up a camera in order to document my works as well as the works of other artists. Though it took a long time to understand the power of the skills I acquired through working with kids, I soon learned to value their worth and strengthened my interest in community development. Similarly, a photo's beauty lies in capturing the uncontrollable environment, with the spontaneity of the controlled snapshot. That took time to develop as well.

I continually look forward to working with new people, cultures and concepts. I enjoy simple expressions of artistic creativity, and documenting change throughout the world with photography.