Welcome to Black Matter Matters! A space where we explore the stories, objects, and materials that shape Black life, creativity, and memory. Each episode looks at material culture. What we make, keep, and pass down and how things tells the story of who we are. From artwork and photographs to jewelry, records, and handwritten notes, these items reflect our resilience, imagination, and shared history.
In this first episode, I sit down with Huntsville-based photographer Xavier Isaac, my brilliant brother. A creative force whose work centers on film photography, music, and memory. His work has been shown at the Orion Amphitheater, the Huntsville Museum of Art, and even Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta. Most recently, he exhibited portraits of local musicians at Huntsville City Hall.
Material Culture and the Black Experience
When I asked Xavier what comes to mind when he hears the phrase material culture, he paused and said:
That word intentional captures the essence of material culture perfectly. It’s about the things we create and preserve with purpose. I define it as the human-made objects—art, photographs, quilts, jewelry, even everyday tools that carry our collective stories. For Black Matter Matters, the focus is on material culture rooted in Black creativity and preservation.
Music as Material Culture
When asked what object or piece of material culture he couldn’t live without, Xavier’s answer was immediate:
“Music. Without it, I couldn’t make the work I do. It’s essential to humanity.”
For Xavier, music is not just inspiration it’s the foundation of his visual practice. He collects vinyl records, appreciating the tactile nature of physical media in an increasingly digital world. Records, he says, represent “intentional material”—crafted art forms that embody sound, design, and history.
“I love vinyls—the look of them, what they represent. You can hold the music in your hands, see who made it, and honor every person involved in creating it.”
This love of collaboration, credit, and curation extends into his photography. Much like how an album is a collective work of art, his photos are layered collaborations between photographer, subject, and moment.
On Creative Process
When asked what material best represents his creative process, Xavier didn’t hesitate:
“A song.”
He compared his process of shooting and editing to composing music—conceptualizing, recording, tinkering, and refining. For him, the work isn’t finished after the shutter clicks. It evolves in post-production, in the small adjustments that shape how a photo feels.
“A raw photo is like a demo. You work it until it becomes the version you want to release into the world.”
Love and Legacy: The Couples Project
One of Xavier’s most captivating bodies of work (in my opinoon) is his Couples Project. This is an ongoing photo series that documents love across race, gender, and orientation. What began as portraits of friends has evolved into a study of relationships through both imagery and conversation.
“I interview the couples I photograph,” Xavier explained. “I ask how love has shaped them, what they’ve learned about themselves, and how they define partnership.”
The series isn’t just about romantic love. It’s about reflection, vulnerability, and growth. Some of the couples have stayed together. Others have not. Either way, their stories become part of a larger archive of connection and change.
“I want people to look back and see what love looked like in this era,” he said. “These are moments worth preserving.”
Preservation, Permanence, and Progress
As a film photographer, Xavier is deeply aware of time. When I asked if he wants his work to last, he said:
“Absolutely. I want it preserved so future generations can see how we lived, how we loved, and how we saw ourselves.”
Photography, he reminded me, is a relatively young medium—just over a century old—but it’s vital to documenting Black life with honesty and pride. His hope is to see more Black photographers’ work represented in museums and archives.
“We can’t improve if we erase our past. We have to preserve it to move forward.”
Home, Framing, and the Things We Keep
We ended by talking about the everyday objects that surround us. The art on our walls, the things we frame or fail to. For both of us, framing is an act of care. It signals that what you own is worth saving.
“In college, I taped posters to my walls,” Xavier laughed. “Now, everything is framed. It’s about maturity and preservation. Framing means I can move things with me, protect them, and honor them.”
It’s a beautiful metaphor for life: protect what matters, evolve as needed, and keep what grounds you.
What Black Matter Matters Means
In one sentence, I asked Xavier what Black Matter Matters means to him.
“Preserving our legacy and our art—with no compromise.”
A lover of beauty. A lover of music. Bri loves sharing all things art, custom framing, and teaching. Currently she resides in Atlanta, GA and is always down to collaborate.
