I WAS HERE| media workshop

I WAS HERE is a media workshop that puts digital cameras and photoblogging websites into the hands of young parents. Five women, all pregnant or parenting, have been documenting their lives in Toronto through their own eyes. All have had experience with homelessness.

This exhibit features large format prints and text from some of their blogs.

For the behind-the-scenes story, go to http://www.nfb.ca/filmmakerinresidence

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ARTISTS’ STATEMENT

We’ve come together as a group to have our voices heard.

“I guess I kind of liken it to voting” says Adrienne, “People say it’s just one vote, one small voice, it doesn’t count, but you do it anyway because it all adds up in the end.”

We want to show that we have many struggles in our lives, but that ultimately we are strong, we work really hard. Through photoblogging, “We are creating windows into our lives” says Jess, “And hopefully it will take the judgemental edge off and change people’s perceptions of us.”

We have been documenting our journeys, transitions, our homes, our families, our daily lives, exploring how and what we see. “Since I started using the camera, I look for beautiful things” says Meghan, “I analyze what I see. I think, where would be a nice place to go? I always keep my eyes open; alert to what inspires me.”

We hope, in the words of Keneisha, that “People will take time to look at our photographs and read our stories, not just look and go, ‘Oh, that’s nice’ and walk off. But really look at the work we’ve done and think about what it feels like to walk in our shoes.”
- I WAS HERE Photobloggers
January 10, 2007

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TOURED IN EARLY 2007 ACROSS TORONTO, opening at CITY HALL with a reception hosted by Mayor David Miller.
Remounted in May 2007 at CONTACT PHOTO FESTIVAL.
Watch for future remounts here!

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MEDIA COVERAGE FROM THE TOUR
We’ve been blogged by our new friend photojunkie. We’ve also been Torontonist-ed. Heather was on City-TV News and Breakfast Tely, and the voice of Kat and the photobloggers were featured in an item on CBC’s Arts Tonight. 5 photos from the exhibit ran as a photo essay in The National Post. CBC Ontario Today talked with us too: Listen to the Item
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SPECIAL THANKS
Catherine Moravac, Alice Gorman, Merry Little and Davida Nemeroff. Jennifer Humphries, Branden Bratuhin, Christine Kleckner, Arthur Yeung, Patricia Garcia, Sue Mander, Susan Nosov, Donna Cowan and Tom Permlutter at the NFB. Lindsay Wright and Peggy Fotherhill at NFB Mediateque. Heather Haynes at Toronto Free Gallery. Orla Garriques, Michael Chambers, Petra, and Francesca Baldry. Ruth Ewert, Helen Makrikostas, Rosetta Racco for workshop space. Sophia, Shuba, Gladys and Sarah from Ontario Early Years. Tim Evans, Jim O’Neill, Sarah Vernon, Dr. Joel Ray, Dr. Katherine Rouleau and Gail Yardy at St. Michael’s Hospital. Mayor David Miller and Carmen Smith from the city. For connecting us: Margaret at Covenant House, Laura at Shout Clinic, Tammy at Pathways and all of YPNFA. And most of all: Adrienne, DJ, Jess, Keneisha, Meghan, Natalie, Linda and Taheira.

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