ABOUT THE PROJECT
Dark Room Diaspora is a project centered on the work of photographer Russell Frederick, a long-time Bed-Stuy resident who has been documenting the area since 1999. Using an archive of 40,000 to 50,000 images, this project aims to create a unique image-generating program that authentically represents Black and Brown individuals and captures the humanity within the community.
To achieve this, Frederick’s extensive collection of negatives, slides, and photos will be scanned to develop a language model that accurately reflects his style. Collaborating with institutions like NYU or New Inc, we aim to secure the necessary computing resources (GPUs) and involve local Black- and Brown-descent programmers to guide the development process. We will also hire interns and assistants to manage the high-quality scanning of these images.
The output will be an app that uses a subscription model. This platform will allow the public to access an image generator that reflects Russell Frederick’s unique style. It will serve as an alternative to existing models, such as Leonardo or Midjourney, that focuses on providing a data set that explicitly represents Black and Brown communities.
This model is designed to be replicable, potentially allowing photographers with extensive libraries to create their image generators. By doing so, artists can regain financial control over their work, often licensed and used without fair compensation. This project offers a direct way for communities to support their artists, keeping the resources and profits within the community. This project seeks to create an open-source solution for other artists and develop relationships with institutions that will make the processing equipment available.
