About the Artist

PATIENCE ZALANGA is a photographer and documentarian from the Twin Cities, with over a decade of experience capturing social movements and moments of resistance across the United States. Her work, sparked by the Ferguson protests, focuses on documenting communities impacted by systemic injustice, beginning with local protests following the deaths of Philando Castile, Jamar Clark, and George Floyd. Through her lens, Patience amplifies the stories of individuals and communities often excluded from mainstream narratives.

Her photography has been featured in outlets such as TIME, The New York Times, Minnesota Public Radio, NPR, BuzzFeed News, and AJ+, highlighting the significance of her work in shaping public discourse. In 2020, she was awarded the Walker Art Center’s Community Artist Award, and her images are preserved in the Library of Congress.

Beyond her photography, Patience works full-time as a Youth Justice Case Manager at a drop-in center for youth in St. Paul, where she supports young people navigating the youth carceral system. Her commitment to both art and advocacy drives her mission to elevate marginalized voices, nurture understanding, and contribute to systemic change.

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About the Artwork

"The first law of thermodynamics teaches us that in an isolated system, like the universe, energy cannot be created or destroyed; it can only transform. This profound principle invites us to reflect with humility and awe on how our very existence is intricately woven from energy that has always been. From the ground beneath our feet to the sky above, from the flight of birds to the stars scattered across the cosmos, energy forms a continuous tapestry that connects all life, transcending time—past, present, and future.

The transformation of self, community, and the world becomes a radical and sacred act. Our hands hold immense power—the ability to heal, create, harm, or destroy. Just as the first law of thermodynamics teaches us that energy is eternal, the energy we cultivate through our actions, or the absence of them, shapes the future for ourselves, our descendants, and the sacred land we inhabit."

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