__________________________
PHOTOS:
'Her Word as Witness'
Opening Reception
A photographic installation of today's most compelling writers debuts at The Skylight Gallery
GO HERE TO VIEW SLIDE SHOW OF OPENING RECEPTION
Last night at the Skylight Gallery in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn-based photographer Laylah Amatullah Barrayn debuted "Her Word as Witness: Women Writers of the African Diaspora," an exhibit that features 35 photographic portraits of some of today's most compelling writers, along with excerpts from their works.
Those featured include award-winning Haitian novelist and essayist Edwidge Danticat who the New York Times credits with increasing America's understanding of the Haitian immigrant; President Barack Obama's inaugural poet, Elizabeth Alexander; soul-stirring, singer-songwriter-bassist and Grammy award recipient, Esperanza Spalding and 32 other equally noteworthy literary and performance giants.
The exhibit promotes a personal and community dialogue about the artists, race, sexism, literature, love and other issues.
Other writers profiled include Malaika Adero, Tomika Anderson, asha bandele, Kristal Brent Zook, Nana Ekua Brew-Hammond, Raquel Cepeda, Kandia Crazy Horse, Tananarive Due, Coc Fusco, Carolina Gonzalez, Karen Good Marable, Farah Jasmine Griffin, Tayari Jones, Juleyka Lantigua-Williams, Demetria L. Lucas, Dominga Martin, Kierna Mayo, Bernice L. McFadden, Nekesa Moody, jessica Care moore, Joan Morgan, Jill Nelson, Liza Jessie Peterson, Sharifa Rhodes-Pitts, Sonia Sanchez, Danyel Smith, Akiba Solomon, Mecca Jamillah Sullivan, Susan L. Taylor, Terrie Williams, Ibi Aanu Zoboi and Nana Camille Yarbrough.
"Her Word as Witness" will be on display at the gallery through March 31, 2012.
__________________________
NEW PHOTO EXHIBIT
CAPTURES
WOMEN WRITERS OF COLOR
When photographer Laylah Amatullah Barrayn made a choice to photograph 36 contemporary writers for her current exhibition “Her Words Her Word as Witness: Portraits of Women Writers of the African Diaspora” she also, in effect, was turning the camera on herself. As a writer and photographer she understands what it means to bear witness and the vulnerability that comes with both jobs.
Photographic portraiture is a medium that can be loaded with double entendre. The notion of exposure, to be revealed, to be seen, captured in what photographer Henri Cartier-Bresson referred to as the “decisive moment” is a cyclical exchange between the photographer and the subject. The intimacy of portrait photography heightens the intensity of exchange between photographer and subject and the gaze if constantly shifting. The prints reveal the skill of the photographer and her ability to capture the essence of her subject.
The 20 x 30 inch color photographs are framed in white hanging against white walls accentuating the rich and vibrant colors in each print. Most of the women “composed themselves” states Ms. Barrayn, continuing “I wanted the work to be a combination of photojournalism and portraiture.” To achieve this Ms. Barrayn shot 400 plus images per writer.
The women all possess a posture of strength, exuding the energies and powers of queens and oracles all while being light, their poses are playful, comfortable, they are smiling, laughing, and contemplative. The gaze, whether regarding the camera or not begs the viewer to see, to regard the feminine, her colors.
By taking on this project Ms. Barrayn was making a choice to place herself in front of the world as the portrait photographer of globally recognized and emerging writers; it was a risk that she approached with the degree of confidence and fearlessness required to accomplish. Reaching out to writers such as Kierna Mayo, poet Sonia Sanchez, and novelist Edwidge Danticat (to name a few), she began her journey that took her from Brooklyn to Boston, to Miami and beyond.
Loop21 caught up with Ms. Barrayn in the final moments of her installation where she took time to share about her inspiration and process.
Loop21: When did you begin this project and what inspired you to do this work?
Laylah Amatullah Barrayn: I like to say the seed was planted for this project when, as a teenager in the late '90s, I visited the Schombug Center and came across a book of postcards of black women writers. Some of the writers I was familiar with, like Alice Walker and Maya Angelou, but others I
never heard of, at the time, people like bell hooks and Edwidge Danticat were also included in that book of postcards. I was impressed by the beautiful photos of these women that that book of postcards
stood in my mind for years… I wanted to pay homage to some of the writers who really fed me with their words. I wanted to thank them for offering so much of themselves. I wanted to share their image with the world.
Writers are represented by their words, and rarely do we know how they look. We could walk past out favorite writer in the store and not know it. I wanted to focus on women writers because I found their stories and plights to be so intriguing. Honestly, this project is deeply personal, most of the writers I chose are writers whose work I really love and admire, they've touched my life, validated me, educated me
and I'm impressed by their brilliance and fearlessness.
Loop21: What was most challenging about the process/project?
Laylah Amatullah Barrayn: I think the most challenging part was editing down the photos. I really wanted to honor the women and have them feel comfortable with having their image up in a gallery for four months. It was difficult because even though the women allowed me to photograph them and we did experimental and conservatively composed pictures, it was hard to choose something more off kilter because I know this is a representation of the women. So, balancing my artistic vision with the comfort and respect of my subjects, many who were very private and didn’t have their picture taken often, was a challenge.
Also, women are judged so much more by their physical appearance that taking a picture can create anxiety being represented in photos. Also, I wanted to make the women look good, which they naturally do, but without much retouching, I didn't want to be the magician photographer. I wanted authentic photos, which is why I had the women basically compose themselves. I wanted to give them an opportunity to be in control of themselves, which is an opportunity we don't have in the public sphere. Another thing that was challenging was contacting some of the writers, many writers on my list I was able to contact and photograph, but some were just impossible, even with Facebook and Twitter, I couldn't get that connection. I'm happy with my selection; the women I shot are awesome! Working full time, I teach in elementary school and producing this was also very challenging, too.
Loop21: How long have you been working as a photographer and what camera did you use for this project?
Laylah Amatullah Barrayn: I've been working as a photographer since 1997, mostly working on photojournalism. I started to exhibit my work around 2004 and begun more fine arts projects around that time. I'm still getting used to digital. I've been shooting film for many years, so I decided to challenge myself and complete this project in digital. I used a Nikon D80. Using either my 50mm or my wide angle 24mm.
Loop21: You have worked with photographer and Professor Deborah Willis on past projects which was most memorable and why?
Laylah Amatullah Barrayn: I've worked with Professor Willis in the capacity where she's published me in her book, “Black: A Celebration of a Culture”. She has been one of the most generous people I've encountered in the field of fine art and photography. She has a wealth of resources and knowledge and is more than willing to offer guidance to those serious about their craft.
Loop21: Did you receive funding for this project?
I applied for a grant before I began shooting this project and was rejected. I was rejected because the writers I proposed were supposedly "too big" and the grant committee was afraid I wouldn't have access to these "famous" women.
One of the writers the grant panel mentioned was Edwidge Danticat, they didn't think I could get access to her. But, lo and behold, she invited me to her home to photograph her. The Institute for Research in African-American Studies of Columbia University (IRAAS)/Towards An Intellectual History of Black Women Project were helpful with funding,Farah Jasmine Griffin is the director of that center. The majority of the project was funded by Restoration Plaza/Skylight gallery which is funded by NYSCA and other governmental agencies. I also saved up some of my own money to get it done.
Loop21: What is on your calendar for 2012?
Laylah Amatullah Barrayn: I'm looking to shoot more writers for ‘Her Word as Witness’ and create a coffee table book of the photographs. Next year I wanted to finish up a project I began in Dakar, Senegal, I was photographing the women of the Medina. I'm keeping my mind open to what other projects come to
me. I'm an open art vessel.
“Her Words Her Word as Witness: Portraits of Women Writers of the African Diaspora” is on view from December 1, 2011 through March 31, 2012 at the Skylight Gallery of the Center for Arts & Culture of the Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration , 1368 Fulton Street, Brooklyn NY 11216. For more information visit:http://www.restorationplaza.org/calendar/womenwritersopen. The exhibition will travel to NYU in April and to Atlanta in 2013.
>via: http://www.loop21.com/culture/new-photo-exhibit-captures-women-writers-color