I have had the honor of being one of his subjects and being one of his subjects has help to fill some aspect in me, whether it was a sense of connection from ancestry, from his wonderfully decorated studio or just his spirit and professionalism, it was an experience to remember. If you have never had your face or body painted in tribal and or African symbols I recommend that you try it at least once.

This interview was informal because I have been knowing Ifoma for some years now, have been a fan, purchased and even worked with him before (so when I found out I couldn’t repeat last semester interview) I gave him a call so last minute and he squeezed me into his schedule.

I thought we were going to meet at his wonderful cultured studio, not too far from my own dwellings, but he pleasantly surprised me by showing up at my door. We conducted the interview in my bedroom office, he kicked back on my lounger dressed comfortably in shorts and tee shirt and me professionally laid out on my bed equipped with mini-recorder pad and paper, (oh yeah with my children coming back and fourth sort of interviewing me).

Me: When did he first get started into the photography business?

Ifoma: I took a photography class back in 83 and the first time I went into the dark room to process my film, it was just a magical experience for me. To see my work take shape and form, I was in control of, or creating something, a little different than paintings which of course you know I do as well.

Me: Yes I remember the wonderful canvas you did, remains me of Lois Mailou Jones, very colorful, cultural and you make use of African symbols, not just on canvas but your clothing, hats and shoes all beautifully done. Also the car you did for the Super bowl when they had beautifully design cars placed all around the city was very exciting.

Ifoma:  Yeah that was a wonderful experience working with my city, the city of Detroit.

Me: wait, wait let’s not jump ahead, because this is not the first time you have been hired by the city, right?

Ifoma: right, ok so where was I? Oh yeah, the joy of creating, I was at the Kuhumba House out in the Houston area and Tomas (blank) the producer of the stage play “Men Cry in the Dark” hired me to take pictures of the production, cast and crew. I then began work as a photojournalist here in Detroit for the Shrine of the Black Madonna. All of this happens like right away and oh yeah I got a “D” in that photo class.

Mitzi: A “D”? Are you serious? With your talent and body of work?

Ifoma: yeah, see I’m like this, if I don’t like it I’m not photographing it. And the assignments, they just weren’t what I had in mind or were feeling. I don’t think the teacher liked me much either (laughter). After the Shrine I did work for GM Photographic, mostly mounting pictures, always doing my thing on the side. In 87’ I did my Beautiful Black Women Series and also I traveled to Kingston, Jamaica to do Marcus Garvey Bi-Centennial Traveling Exhibition.

Me: What other series have you done?

Ifoma: I also went to Antigua in the West Indies for my Carnival series and I realized how important traveling was to photo work. Other series of mine includes Natural Images, Children Images, Creative Still Life’s and Images Reflecting Life Issues.

Me: A couple of year’s back I bought a poetry book and saw that you did the photos for the cover.

Ifoma: Yeah, that was cool, I’ve did things like that thought even when I worked for GM or the Shrine; I also did my thing on the side. I had my first one-man show here in Detroit, at a gallery I can’t think of the name at this time and I also won the Lenore B. Anthony award. Then in 90’ I left the city job and started, The Third Eye where I did family portrait, weddings and events and I did it for 4yrs this was my own company. After 4yrs. I took a job at Detroit Picture Frame Company, where I did at lot of matting and framing. I took another job with Amway (and we both laughed door-to-door sales a lot of artist went that way back in the day). The crazy thing was in Nov. of that year, I was evicted from my home and in Dec. I was hired by the Archer administration as a photographer for the city of Detroit.

Me: Wow sees how that works, truly amazing when you stick to your craft.

Ifoma: Oh yes, you got to be true to you, I was lay-off in 2005 and I got serious about my art, so I got a studio at 4731 and that’s when I really got off into not only my photography but my African abstract on clothing and shoes, I started burning and carving, the clothing as well.

Me: Where do you see your art form going in the next five – to – ten years?

Ifoma: Digital and I will be there, what digital does is makes photography more assecebile to people. Before or with film the money was spent in the processing but with digital the money is spent in the front with the equipment, it’s good because you a card that you can delete save money there but the quality of pictures aren’t as good, but just give them a minute and they will be. I will be moving into film and movies soon, I am heading that route now, my digital camera does filming that’s really cool.

Me: So what are you doing now?

Ifoma: I am teaching a photography class at Youthville on Woodward and doing a documentary on the several art projects going on around the city, I’m still doing what I love.

We wrapped the interview up with ideas, and stories of where we both were at with our work and did a lot of catching up (I showed him the presentation I did for Phil and the one I had started on for Dabl, African Bead Museum). It was really cool seeing, sitting and talking something neither of us had did in a while.

Ifoma, is a Detroit-based photographic artist, has been working his craft since 1981. His mission statement is: I am a photographic artist, seeking to express my art freely and honestly. My attitude towards photography is one of non-interference…a witnessing approach to capturing the sensitivity and spirit of a moment in people, nature, places and things.

Ifoma is an extraordinary artist and it can be seen and felt all through his works.