From Survival To Recovery: A Photo Exhibition Featuring Wilmington Small Businesses Opens this Week
May 26, 2021
Wilmington, DE: The economic impacts of COVID-19 on the small business community have been devastating. ‘From Survival To Recovery’ is a photo exhibition created by student photographers from 4Youth Productions that demonstrates the strength and resilience of our small business owners in Wilmington.
This weekly event, at the corner of 7th & Harrison Streets in Wilmington’s West Side, will offer a reflection back on the pandemic that impacted us all in so many ways and a visual journey of adaptation and survival. The majority of businesses featured are Wilmington Strong Fund recipients, a micro-grant program developed as a response to COVID-19. Additionally, the exhibit will feature high fashion, editorial photoshoots from The Original Coloure Collective, lead by Founders Andre’ Wright Jr & Sara A. Crawford. The Original Coloure Collective was formed in January of 2021 to highlight, engage and promote black creatives and minority-owned and small businesses.
Photographer Andre’ Wright jr from “The Original Colour Collective” behind the scenes
“Despite the current state of the world, art hasn’t stopped,” stated Sara Crawford from the The Original Coloure Collective. She feels “creating this positive imagery was invigorating,” and she “hope[s] we are able to shine a light on the support that these, and so many other black-owned creative businesses need right now.”
Cornerstone West CDC is grateful for the collaboration of the following partners; (1) Wilmington Strong Fund – Provides $1000 grants to Wilmington small businesses in order to support them through the negative economic impacts of COVID-19, (2) Wilmington Made – A citywide marketing campaign for small businesses led by Wilmington Alliance and, (3) 4Youth Productions – Offers underserved youth education that blends art with science.
Photo by Andre’ Wright jr from “The Original Colour Collective”
The exhibition will open this week on May 27th, and will continue on Thursday evenings, 6-8pm, through June 17th at The Launchpad (1139 W 7th Street). The Launchpad is a new initiative with the Launcher Entrepreneurship Program to identify & lease business incubator spaces for local start-up businesses.
Cornerstone West CDC builds affordable housing in New Castle County and serves as a proactive catalyst for neighborhood revitalization. Cornerstone serves as the backbone organization for West Side Grows Together: a coalition of stakeholders and community leaders working to improve the quality of life in Wilmington’s West Side.