North Lake Campus recently hosted the documentary photography exhibition “As I Rise” by local artist NiEtta Reynolds. The exhibit featured the women, elders and change-makers who shaped Reynold’s identity and values, and embraced the enduring legacies of Black women in the Fair Park and South Dallas communities.
For Reynolds, the geographic focus is on the area where she was born. She specifically sought out important women who made contributions to the area but may have been overlooked. By highlighting the “four different generations of excellence,” “As I Rise” serves as both a history lesson and a call to action for the next generation.
The women are paired with flowers, defining their strength and ability to “spring back.” Reynolds’ camera ensures their stories are finally being told in full bloom. “As I Rise” draws inspiration from the legendary poet Maya Angelou, reflecting the ability to overcome life’s harshest seasons. Reynolds said the plants or flowers are intended to symbolize the cycle of life.
“Flowers wither, then they spring back,” Reynolds said. “They change with the seasons. They grow in water. They are strong.”
Whether it is a small blossom framing a face or a plant providing “oxygen” to the frame, the greenery represents the resilience of the women featured—women who built businesses, saved hospitals and anchored their neighborhoods.
Unlike traditional studio photography, Reynolds avoids “staged” moments. Her style is raw and observational. She recounted waiting an entire day in a courtroom just to catch a single, authentic reaction from an attorney.
“Pose is not one of the elements,” Reynolds said. “I want to catch them in the true pose.” This approach allows the viewer to see the subjects not as models, but as workers, mothers and leaders in their natural environments.
Reynolds’ work highlights women who are pillars of their communities, many of whom operate in the shadows of larger Dallas headlines. The five women featured in the exhibition include:
Shawnkeedra Martin, a prosecutor shaped by personal loss. She fights for justice and the unheard people in need.
Carrie “Patti Duke” Reynolds, NiEtta’s sister. She is an entrepreneur and a woman who defies industry norms by running both a feminine sanctuary (a hair salon) and a masculine powerhouse (an 18-wheeler trucking company).
Dr. Teresa Jackson, a psychologist and art therapist who helps people navigate trauma through her “trauma-informed” creative therapies.
Dr. Michelle Morgan, a local dentist who has spent more than 25 years in the community. She is currently refurbishing the first Black hospital in South Dallas, a landmark dating back to the era of segregation.
Mollie Finch Belt is the publisher of the Dallas Examiner. She continues her family’s legacy of journalism, telling the truth about the schools and the Southern sector.
The exhibit was on view in the North Lake Campus gallery through March 6.
