I've been dreaming of creating something (exhibition,zine or book) of creative mothers local to where I live on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. There's a lot of us here, juggling motherhood and creative practices in the cracks of parenting. I'd love to explore the connection between where we live, raising children and making art
I live in an elder community that serves us from independent living through end of life; I'd love to do something celebrating the residents and those who work here. It's hard sometimes to valorize the elderly and lives well-lived, but it would be wonderful to do so. I've copied down your bullet points to help shape my proposal to make this real.
I live in Tuindorp Oostzaan, a small very intense community in the north west of Amsterdam. Since it started in the 1930’s as its own city, it has a very strong identity and a chip on its shoulder. The housing is all a very similar architecture that gives it a strong identity. They’re not Amsterdammers, not even noorderlingen, they’re tuindorpers. But that’s changing like crazy. While there are people who have been living there for decades or even multiple generations, there are also lots who have just moved there from other parts of Amsterdam or the Netherlands, or even, like me, from other countries. There’s even a new(ish) refugee centre for Ukrainians who have joined the community.
I’d love to do a double set of portraits; the old timers and the new wave, asking both what the community means to them and how the changes are affecting their lives.
What shifts when you photograph 102 people from one community, and hearing the same frustrations from different mouths, is the distinction between a portrait series and a community document. At that scale, individual portraits start revealing structural conditions everyone shares. That those conversations became 16 policy proposals means the work moved from observation to advocacy without losing its integrity as documentation. I love this. I’m doing something in a similar vein here in LA that I’ve called Stories of Resilience, and it’s been a remarkable way of photographing strangers, hearing their stories, and sharing their ideals. Thank you for writing this!
When I read the question, I imagined what it would be to document people who are life and business partners. To run a company and to have a good relationship: either can be challenging. Let alone if you do both with the same person. The courage!
Working on some popup portraits this year for seniors and their families living in my local Chinatown (in Edmonton Alberta Canada). Trying to change the narrative of the area from one that is "dying" and not worth investing in to one that is culturally rich, historically important, and deserving of equitable treatment! Thanks for putting a name and structure to the projects I too find so meaningful. Community Documentary Projects are truly the best. From this, I am inspired to work with a designer and writer to produce a zine too. I was going to just frame and gift the portraits for the families and potentially make a short film showing behind the scenes clips of the portrait taking process and audio from candid conversations.
This is fabulous Wesley. Congratulations on your creations, your experiences, and the differences you are making. I have no doubt that the subjects of all these projects found new friends and learned a bit about themselves, in addition to their previously unrecognized communities.
I don't have an answer in my own situation, at least yet. We just moved across the country and are exploring a somewhat unfamiliar part of California. But I won't forget this as I learn the region!
I am a (semi)-regular at a brewery pub in St. Louis. Every Thursday, there's a bottleshare where people pull one or several bottles from their collection, then divide pours with those in attendance. Sometimes the bottleshare has a predetermined theme; Belgian sours or fruited ales have been popular lately. Other times, there's no real theme apart from the beer coming from someone's collection. An interesting idea would be to work ahead of time with someone participating in the share, and effectively work "backwards" in the presentation: first, here's the theme or share; next, here is one of the participants and their offering; next, here's why they selected this beer; finally, here's their home collection, which may or may not offer further rationale for their earlier choice.
I've been dreaming of creating something (exhibition,zine or book) of creative mothers local to where I live on the Fleurieu Peninsula in South Australia. There's a lot of us here, juggling motherhood and creative practices in the cracks of parenting. I'd love to explore the connection between where we live, raising children and making art
This is a WONDERFUL idea and I hope you pursue it! Just start with the smallest version of the idea so its not overwhelming, and go from there!
Ah thank you, that's such good advice! Definitely guilty of having decision fatigue and not making a move at all!
thats so normal but start small and it goes away!
I live in an elder community that serves us from independent living through end of life; I'd love to do something celebrating the residents and those who work here. It's hard sometimes to valorize the elderly and lives well-lived, but it would be wonderful to do so. I've copied down your bullet points to help shape my proposal to make this real.
Yes! This is a wonderful idea and I'm glad you're going for it!
I live in Tuindorp Oostzaan, a small very intense community in the north west of Amsterdam. Since it started in the 1930’s as its own city, it has a very strong identity and a chip on its shoulder. The housing is all a very similar architecture that gives it a strong identity. They’re not Amsterdammers, not even noorderlingen, they’re tuindorpers. But that’s changing like crazy. While there are people who have been living there for decades or even multiple generations, there are also lots who have just moved there from other parts of Amsterdam or the Netherlands, or even, like me, from other countries. There’s even a new(ish) refugee centre for Ukrainians who have joined the community.
I’d love to do a double set of portraits; the old timers and the new wave, asking both what the community means to them and how the changes are affecting their lives.
this is a fantastic idea Andrew!! and a very unique history
What shifts when you photograph 102 people from one community, and hearing the same frustrations from different mouths, is the distinction between a portrait series and a community document. At that scale, individual portraits start revealing structural conditions everyone shares. That those conversations became 16 policy proposals means the work moved from observation to advocacy without losing its integrity as documentation. I love this. I’m doing something in a similar vein here in LA that I’ve called Stories of Resilience, and it’s been a remarkable way of photographing strangers, hearing their stories, and sharing their ideals. Thank you for writing this!
that sounds awesome, Afonso! thank you for reading and sharing.
When I read the question, I imagined what it would be to document people who are life and business partners. To run a company and to have a good relationship: either can be challenging. Let alone if you do both with the same person. The courage!
This is a great concept, Laura!! I hope you pursue it!
Working on some popup portraits this year for seniors and their families living in my local Chinatown (in Edmonton Alberta Canada). Trying to change the narrative of the area from one that is "dying" and not worth investing in to one that is culturally rich, historically important, and deserving of equitable treatment! Thanks for putting a name and structure to the projects I too find so meaningful. Community Documentary Projects are truly the best. From this, I am inspired to work with a designer and writer to produce a zine too. I was going to just frame and gift the portraits for the families and potentially make a short film showing behind the scenes clips of the portrait taking process and audio from candid conversations.
Love reading this Jordon! You go!
This is fabulous Wesley. Congratulations on your creations, your experiences, and the differences you are making. I have no doubt that the subjects of all these projects found new friends and learned a bit about themselves, in addition to their previously unrecognized communities.
I don't have an answer in my own situation, at least yet. We just moved across the country and are exploring a somewhat unfamiliar part of California. But I won't forget this as I learn the region!
Ooh new environment! You will find many new stories :) Thank you for the kind words Donn!
I am a (semi)-regular at a brewery pub in St. Louis. Every Thursday, there's a bottleshare where people pull one or several bottles from their collection, then divide pours with those in attendance. Sometimes the bottleshare has a predetermined theme; Belgian sours or fruited ales have been popular lately. Other times, there's no real theme apart from the beer coming from someone's collection. An interesting idea would be to work ahead of time with someone participating in the share, and effectively work "backwards" in the presentation: first, here's the theme or share; next, here is one of the participants and their offering; next, here's why they selected this beer; finally, here's their home collection, which may or may not offer further rationale for their earlier choice.
what an awesome thing to exist!
Truly amazing project, Wesley. The end result couldn't be better. De Zwijger must have been exploding with energy that evening.
Thank you Marcel! It was such a special vibe in the room (even though it was 9am in the morning actually haha!)