Fargo native to capture pictures of metro area residents for large-scale mural

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — “What I want to focus on creating more of is joy and connectedness between all of us as human beings. And so I try to pull that out of the participants through the medium.”

Josh Madson is a photographer and the founder of the non-profit Community Collage. The non-profit transforms black-and-white portrait photography into murals. But also showing parts of people together as a vibrant and inclusive community.

“What I want to leave people feeling is that they are special and beautiful and that they matter. And so I try to figure out what it is that I need to do in order to have them love this image,” said Madson.

So far, Madson has photographed more than 14,000 people across the United States. And now Madson is working on adding Fargo and Moorhead as a part of the project.

“My thesis is that if people see themselves in a space, they will treat it more like it’s their home. And that they belong. So, if I can create this sense of importance and a feeling of visibility and being seen and heard and that they matter, that’s really one of the goals of this,” said Madson.

The mural is a part of Madson’s feature in the upcoming TEDXFargo. His focus will be on the power of community and bringing people together through creative arts. As he said at one point in his life, he nearly gave up photography, but now that has changed.

“What is the self-limiting belief that you might have about yourself, one might have about themselves. And why are you letting that stop you from even trying to go after something that matters to you or your dream? You never know where it can take you,” said Madson.

Madson will be continuing his pop-up portrait events throughout the area, with his next set on Friday at MSUM.

Pop-up Events:

● April 17 – Minnesota State University Moorhead
MSUM Comstock Memorial Union, First Floor
615 14th St S, Moorhead, MN
10:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M.

● April 18 – Moorhead Community Center Opening
450 Center Avenue, Moorhead, MN
10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

● May 6 – StartupBREW Fargo

118 Broadway N, Suite S1, Fargo, ND
8:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M.

● May 9 – West Acres Shopping Center
The Fountain Court
3902 13th Ave S, Suite 238, Fargo, ND
10:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M.

● May 12 – Touchmark at Harwood Groves
1200 Harwood Dr S, Fargo, ND
12:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M.