Today we’d like to introduce you to Morgana Wilborn.
Morgana, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I am a Dallas native. I have lived, went to school or worked in every section of Dallas. I studied at UNT for my bachelors and the University of Houston for my Masters. For eight years I was a theater teacher in Dallas ISD. I am currently an adjunct professor at El Centro. I am the Director of Education at the Tony Award winning Dallas Theater Center. Arts education is very important to me and I believe in the power of student – centered learning through the arts. We work with local high schools to provide them access to free theater, classes, and workshops. We provide a robust theater program in the summer for students and lecture and talk back series for all patrons before and after each show. I love to engage with the community through theater. I believe that the arts bring everyone together in a special way. Everyone has the right to learn and everyone has the right to witness and engage with the art of every form. Also, as the only woman of color on the executive team at my theater, it is my duty to create opportunities for more people like myself to engage and create more art. I also carry this love as an actress when I work with companies such as Soul Rep Theatre and Cara Mia Theatre.
By night, I own Photo Noire. A photography company that specializes in wedding, portrait, event and product photography. I have successfully maintained a thriving freelance photography business in Dallas, TX for over ten years. Photo Noire was created in remembrance of my father Michael Wilborn. My father taught be photography. I remember learning on our family Minolta that I still own today (and my Spice Girl Polaroid camera). As a teen, I learned in high school how to develop film and I continued to practice digital photography throughout college. Before his passing my dad hoped to create his own photography studio. In 2010 I made my late father’s dream a reality by creating a freelance business and studio in the Medical District and Downtown/Cedars areas of Dallas. I currently live and work out of Oak Cliff.
I hope that my photography can continue to be a platform to tell the stories of those in Dallas, TX and beyond through photographic services, events and products. I have been lucky enough to share these stories through various art shows in the city, including my last show solo K.L.R.D. G.R.L.S. which debuted at the Umbrella Gallery in Deep Ellum and Lovely Forgotten, which has shown at Genius Den in Deep Ellum and WaterTower Theatre in Addison. I also have a photographic book entitled Polaroid Story, a compilation of stories and photography on Dallas teens.
I say all of this to say, there are so many native Dallasites who have and are continuing to do wonderful work in Dallas. Many of us have multiple creative jobs that we are proud to share with the world. I am thankful to work in so many sectors in Dallas. There are many people living here that are wanting to create creative venues and opportunities that connect and celebrate all of us. I hope my programming at DTC and my photography can provide the same type of opportunities for others that were afforded to me. I am proud to be a native of Dallas and a woman of color doing big things in the city that I love.
Has it been a smooth road?
My journey to where I am has not been a smooth one. In college, there were no opportunities given to women of color unless they deemed you “the one”. We had to make our own opportunities on campus. After graduating, there were still no open doors to create if you did not have a nice “white voice” and “white look”. I went into education so that I could teach my students who live in communities of color to create their own opportunities. I encouraged them to learn about everything and always strive to be the boss and be the one in the room that knows the most about their craft. Going into photography was one of the best ways that I took control of my destiny. I created my own business when no one would give me a photography job, acting job or even a teaching job. I have wonderful friends who believed in me and continued to refer me to their friends. If it wasn’t for my sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha, and the Junior League, I would not be as successful as I am today.
I advise all young women to really work to stretch the skill sets of their talents. I challenge all young women of color to never take no for an answer. People will not care for you because they feel like you don’t sound as right, your name is too complicated, you look too ethnic, your passion is coming across too aggressively… but don’t listen. If people don’t give you an opportunity, make your own and don’t give up. I’ve gone from working five different jobs in five different cities to being a leader at a major non-profit. I continued with my education, I built up my resume and I smiled at every “no” that came my way. I never gave up and I never settled for no. I redefined what a hustler means for myself and its worked out for me even today.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Photo Noire and Dallas Theater Center – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
It depends what sector and who you are talking to. (lol) Some people know me as Ms. Wilborn (or Professor), the theater teacher. Some know me as Morgana the actress in that show at Soul Rep. Some know me as Morgana Wilborn Director of Education or “hey, don’t you do photography?” It’s great.
My study is in theater and theater education. Those who “can”, teach. So, that is what makes me the big bucks. I will never deny that. I love education. I love to learn and I looooove to teach. I have to been taught to be of service to all mankind. God has blessed me to be a servant for over ten years and I love it.
Photography is my passion and it has taken me so many places. I am very proud of it but I am glad I can enjoy it without necessarily needing to have to do it. I do it out of joy. I am happy that I have done less freelance photography assignments in order to create art shows. So many people say, “so what’s next, now that you have finished this show?” The most powerful answer that I could ever have for them is “nothing”. That feels so good to say. It means that I am doing something I enjoy and not something I need to do in order to solely make money or keep up with the Joneses.
What sets me apart… I am so Dallas. The topography of this city lies in my dialect and speech patterns, my style, my photos, my blood, my hobbies, even where I work (all my full-time jobs have had the word Dallas in them… literally). I’ll travel anywhere, but my roots in creativity are here.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts or other resources that you’ve benefited from using?
I live on Pinterest… yes, I am that thirty-three year old. (lol) (I look it up… I save it… all the answers to life.) I am addicted to all things dealing with black people or biracial. I am so unapologetically black. I love books by Danzy Senna, Zadie Smith, Rebecca Walker, Brittney Cooper and all the black queens not listed. (I have a book club called “Brown Girls, Books and Booze”… we are currently looking for our next book to read.) I listen to Pick the Brain podcast, Black Girl in Om, Call Your Girlfriend, The Cool Soror, Friends Like Us, Girl Boss, Bitch Media, hey, girl, Fresh Air, Hidden Brain and Therapy for Black Girls podcast. I don’t follow a lot of blogs but I am addicted to JSTOR articles. I love scholarly articles. That is my favorite to read even more so than non-fiction books.
Above all, I love learning from my elders. I love their stories. I love how they talk to me. They are way more important to regard than an app or blog.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.photo-noire.com
- Phone: 214-724-0255
- Email: bookings@photo-noire.com
- Instagram: photonoire
- Other: www.dallastheatercenter.org
Image Credit:
Photo Noire (2016-2018)
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
