Bodies Of Work
Current Work – Studio as Sanctuary
Artist Statement: Studio as Sanctuary: Images of the Imago DEI
This body of work emerges from a year-long exploration of the portrait studio as sacred space—a site where image-making becomes an act of reverence. In collaboration with co-creatives, I seek more than portraits; I seek encounters with the holy. Each image is a meditation on the Imago Dei—the sacred belief that every person is made in the image of God. In the studio, something transformative happens. We see ourselves anew. We recognize our sacred worth, our holiness, our beauty, our wonder—that we are fearfully and wonderfully made.
The studio becomes a sanctuary. Through light and shadow, conversation and music, stillness and presence, we co-create images that honor human dignity and divine reflection. This is a transmedia project—spanning photography, personal essay, and documentary storytelling—grounded in arts-based research. It is not only about those I photograph, but about me, the image-maker, being changed in the process. This is theology made visible. This is liturgy made luminous.
Images of the Imago Dei invites us to see portraiture not as vanity or spectacle, but as sacred work—a visual testimony to the spiritual truth that every life bears divine resemblance.
This is a sample of video work for my Studio and Sanctuary. This was a collaboration with me, the artist Yani and the filmmaker Ali, we co-produced and directed this project in my studio.
This video is the result of an image making session we did as part of our Studio as Sanctuary series, where Dr. Teresa Fry Brown’s portrait was enshrined in the Dr. Martin L. King Chapel at Morehouse College. We trace her journey and the power of portraiture.
From the Classroom to the TV: Live and In Color 2011 – 2025
Overview of my work from this stage in my creative journey.
This is a sample of the work we did on our television show Talk it Out with Dr. Ralph Basui Watkins. The show aired on Atlantan Interfaith Broadcasting Network (AIB). This was my second series on AIB.
This is a sample of my first series on AIB, Religion Roundtable. This is one of my very early shows from that series.
This is the first made for television documentary I produced, directed, co-shot and co-edited for AIB Network.
This is part one of my two part Out Egypt I’ve Called My Son: A Son’s Journey Black to Africa, a documentary I produced, directed, wrote and edited for AIB Network.
This is part one of my two part Out Egypt I’ve Called My Son: A Son’s Journey Black to Africa, a documentary I produced, directed, wrote and edited for AIB Network.
This a documentary I produced, directed, wrote, shot and edited for AIB Network, Experiencing Israel and Palestine: Our Story, Our Journey, Our Experience
This video records the vision we lived into while I pastored Wheat Street Baptist Church. This was our vision video.
While the pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church, I produced a television show for the AIB Network, The Love Out Loud Broadcast, this is sample of that show.
While the pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church, I produced a television show for the AIB Network, The Love Out Loud Broadcast, this is sample of that show.
While serving as the pastor of Wheat Street Baptist Church we started and opened a museum this video shares the opening of the museum.
While I was pastoring Wheat Street Baptist Church, I regularly Vlogged, this is a sample of one my vlogs. This was a vlog I did on Martin L. King Day.
From Augusta to Hollywood: My Fuller Years 2005 to 2011
Overview of my work from this stage in my creative journey.
This is my final Sunday at First AME Church Los Angeles, where I served during my time at Fuller Seminary. I have always served in the church and the academy.
I shot this promo for my book From Jay Z to Jesus, a book I wrote while serving First AME Church LA and teaching at Fuller Seminary.
I shot this video to accompany my book, Leading Your African American Church through Pastoral Transition.
This is a promo I shot for an event at Fuller Seminary as we were engaging the question about the future of the African American Church.
This is a video I produced and directed that covered the discussion we had at Fuller Seminary about the future of the African American Church.
This is a sermon I preached at First AME Church, where I was serving as the Executive Pastor, this the week of the inauguration of President Obama.
This is an example of an ad we ran during worship for the Young Adult Ministry I led at First AME Church from 2005 to 2011. This work informed all my writing during those years on hip hop and young adult ministry.
From Pittsburgh to Augusta Georgia and Augusta State University: 1998 to 2005
This video give an overview of my body of work during the years 1998 to 2005.
From Pastor to Scholar and Back Again: The Early Years DMin & PhD Work 1980s to 1997
This video gives an overview of the early years of my scholarly / pastoral journey.