Art, Identity & Celebration: A Powerful Presence at Triad Cultural Arts’ Juneteenth Festival

As part of this year’s Triad Cultural Arts Juneteenth Celebration, we were honored to join the festivities as a featured vendor and cultural contributor—bringing art, storytelling, and community engagement to life through a powerful pop-up experience.

Our booth transformed into a space of reflection and expression, thanks to a special collaboration with acclaimed photographer Stephen Hurst (@amancalledhurst). Hurst brought his moving photo series, “Strangers, Harlem,” to the celebration in the form of an open-air gallery installation that stopped guests in their tracks.

Set against a clean, white backlit backdrop, Hurst’s signature portraits strip away distractions to focus solely on the subject—capturing not just a face, but a presence. Every image reveals rich layers of identity, fashion, and character, allowing viewers to truly see each person in their full humanity.

Adding to the experience, Stephen set up a live portrait station just behind our booth, inviting festival attendees to step into the frame and become part of this visual conversation. The response was heartfelt and enthusiastic—guests of all ages and backgrounds embraced the opportunity to be seen, celebrated, and artistically documented.

In a celebration rooted in freedom and self-determination, this interactive gallery offered a space for personal expression, cultural affirmation, and community connection. It was an honor to witness the joy, pride, and quiet power in each portrait captured.

We’re deeply grateful to Triad Cultural Arts for inviting us to contribute to such a meaningful day, and to Stephen Hurst for sharing his vision and talent in a way that elevated the experience for everyone involved.

This Juneteenth, we didn’t just honor the past—we helped document the present. And in doing so, we created space for people to be truly seen.