[Applause] my purpose I have a purpose my purpose
my purpose I have a purpose my purpose
my purpose I have a purpose my purpose as a photographer has always been and is
as a photographer has always been and is
as a photographer has always been and is to see and to feel and to hear and then
to see and to feel and to hear and then
to see and to feel and to hear and then focus on the breath of humanity those
focus on the breath of humanity those
focus on the breath of humanity those things that bind us those similarities
things that bind us those similarities
things that bind us those similarities that bind us rather than so often the
that bind us rather than so often the
that bind us rather than so often the the social constructs that can result in
the social constructs that can result in
the social constructs that can result in the separation of us humans we we have
the separation of us humans we we have
the separation of us humans we we have this unbelievable and magnificent
this unbelievable and magnificent
this unbelievable and magnificent potential to hold each other’s truths
potential to hold each other’s truths
potential to hold each other’s truths and that is to hold each other’s stories
and that is to hold each other’s stories
and that is to hold each other’s stories and what disability it’s critical that
and what disability it’s critical that
and what disability it’s critical that we can take the time and we can engage
we can take the time and we can engage
we can take the time and we can engage the empathy that it takes to hold those
the empathy that it takes to hold those
the empathy that it takes to hold those truths that are so often housed in the
truths that are so often housed in the
truths that are so often housed in the lives and the stories of those we see
lives and the stories of those we see
lives and the stories of those we see every day three years ago the world
every day three years ago the world
every day three years ago the world commemorated the seventh 70th
commemorated the seventh 70th
commemorated the seventh 70th anniversary of the liberation of
anniversary of the liberation of
anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz and at that time there were 24
Auschwitz and at that time there were 24
Auschwitz and at that time there were 24 recorded Holocaust survivors living in
recorded Holocaust survivors living in
recorded Holocaust survivors living in Richmond and in collaboration with the
Richmond and in collaboration with the
Richmond and in collaboration with the Weinstein Jewish Community Center and
Weinstein Jewish Community Center and
Weinstein Jewish Community Center and the Richmond Symphony I had the
the Richmond Symphony I had the
the Richmond Symphony I had the opportunity to photograph portraits of
opportunity to photograph portraits of
opportunity to photograph portraits of this courageous community and going into
this courageous community and going into
this courageous community and going into this project I realized there were two
this project I realized there were two
this project I realized there were two realities that I would have to consider
realities that I would have to consider
realities that I would have to consider the first reality was that they were
the first reality was that they were
the first reality was that they were people people between the ages of 18 and
people people between the ages of 18 and
people people between the ages of 18 and 98 people who had come to Richmond with
98 people who had come to Richmond with
98 people who had come to Richmond with nearly nothing and they raised families
nearly nothing and they raised families
nearly nothing and they raised families they built businesses they were educated
they built businesses they were educated
they built businesses they were educated they were self-made the second reality
they were self-made the second reality
they were self-made the second reality that I had to consider was that they
that I had to consider was that they
that I had to consider was that they were survivors survivors who when they
were survivors survivors who when they
were survivors survivors who when they entered the concentration camps they
entered the concentration camps they
entered the concentration camps they were children and when the liberation of
were children and when the liberation of
were children and when the liberation of Auschwitz occurred they were still
Auschwitz occurred they were still
Auschwitz occurred they were still children
children
children and for 70 years they have lived with
and for 70 years they have lived with
and for 70 years they have lived with the trauma that is so painful a trauma
the trauma that is so painful a trauma
the trauma that is so painful a trauma that is so vivid a trauma that in many
that is so vivid a trauma that in many
that is so vivid a trauma that in many ways their young hearts and minds
ways their young hearts and minds
ways their young hearts and minds couldn’t possibly understand and they
couldn’t possibly understand and they
couldn’t possibly understand and they have spent their lives processing and
have spent their lives processing and
have spent their lives processing and holding this pain very differently one
holding this pain very differently one
holding this pain very differently one from another
from another
from another Simone Schwartz
Simone Schwartz
Simone Schwartz when I met Simone first met Simone she
when I met Simone first met Simone she
when I met Simone first met Simone she walked into the room and immediately
walked into the room and immediately
walked into the room and immediately upon meeting she emotionally escalated
upon meeting she emotionally escalated
upon meeting she emotionally escalated she wanted to know if I was affiliated
she wanted to know if I was affiliated
she wanted to know if I was affiliated with the Nazi Party she assumed I was an
with the Nazi Party she assumed I was an
with the Nazi Party she assumed I was an SS soldier and she demanded to know why
SS soldier and she demanded to know why
SS soldier and she demanded to know why I was there the only thing I could
I was there the only thing I could
I was there the only thing I could really do in that moment was to set my
really do in that moment was to set my
really do in that moment was to set my camera down and meet Simone in that
camera down and meet Simone in that
camera down and meet Simone in that moment in her truth which was her story
moment in her truth which was her story
moment in her truth which was her story so eventually she calmed and we both
so eventually she calmed and we both
so eventually she calmed and we both entered the here-and-now reality that we
entered the here-and-now reality that we
entered the here-and-now reality that we were both then her breath began to
were both then her breath began to
were both then her breath began to deepen that gave way to tears which then
deepen that gave way to tears which then
deepen that gave way to tears which then gave way to a really profound
gave way to a really profound
gave way to a really profound peacefulness the curated and final image
peacefulness the curated and final image
peacefulness the curated and final image of Simone that one person in that one
of Simone that one person in that one
of Simone that one person in that one moment in many ways represents the
moment in many ways represents the
moment in many ways represents the multiple truths that we all hold inside
multiple truths that we all hold inside
multiple truths that we all hold inside of ourselves making up who we are at any
of ourselves making up who we are at any
of ourselves making up who we are at any given moment in time I went a step side
given moment in time I went a step side
given moment in time I went a step side was just for a second and I would be
was just for a second and I would be
was just for a second and I would be remiss to say that earlier this year in
remiss to say that earlier this year in
remiss to say that earlier this year in a February Simone
a February Simone
a February Simone passed away and it was just an
passed away and it was just an
passed away and it was just an incredible privilege to be let inside
incredible privilege to be let inside
incredible privilege to be let inside the beautiful and complex truths that
the beautiful and complex truths that
the beautiful and complex truths that will forever be Simone Schwartz
this is buckboard a key now when bud
this is buckboard a key now when bud entered the room he was an entirely
entered the room he was an entirely
entered the room he was an entirely jovial character funny gregarious
jovial character funny gregarious
jovial character funny gregarious irreverent
irreverent
irreverent he liked he pulls out of this wall at
he liked he pulls out of this wall at
he liked he pulls out of this wall at his Screen Actors Guild card and he
his Screen Actors Guild card and he
his Screen Actors Guild card and he proceeds to tell me about the television
proceeds to tell me about the television
proceeds to tell me about the television shows commercials and movies he’s been
shows commercials and movies he’s been
shows commercials and movies he’s been in and as I look back upon it I think it
in and as I look back upon it I think it
in and as I look back upon it I think it was all a diversion because I absolutely
was all a diversion because I absolutely
was all a diversion because I absolutely forgot why I was there until until there
forgot why I was there until until there
forgot why I was there until until there was that moment where he sat down to
was that moment where he sat down to
was that moment where he sat down to adjust this sport coat and I saw the
adjust this sport coat and I saw the
adjust this sport coat and I saw the concentration camp a serial number
concentration camp a serial number
concentration camp a serial number tattooed into his arm and I asked if I
tattooed into his arm and I asked if I
tattooed into his arm and I asked if I could photograph it and without breaking
could photograph it and without breaking
could photograph it and without breaking character he shook his head and I so I
character he shook his head and I so I
character he shook his head and I so I began to photograph it and I looked up
began to photograph it and I looked up
began to photograph it and I looked up at moments later and I could tell that
at moments later and I could tell that
at moments later and I could tell that the weight in Bud’s eyes has shifted the
the weight in Bud’s eyes has shifted the
the weight in Bud’s eyes has shifted the emotional state of Bud had shifted and
emotional state of Bud had shifted and
emotional state of Bud had shifted and therefore the complexity of our
therefore the complexity of our
therefore the complexity of our relationship had shifted in many ways
relationship had shifted in many ways
relationship had shifted in many ways Bud had let us in and it became my
Bud had let us in and it became my
Bud had let us in and it became my intention throughout the image to make
intention throughout the image to make
intention throughout the image to make sure I hold and I share that truth now I
sure I hold and I share that truth now I
sure I hold and I share that truth now I have set towards the end of our meeting
have set towards the end of our meeting
have set towards the end of our meeting together I asked one of the most
together I asked one of the most
together I asked one of the most audaciously ridiculous questions I don’t
audaciously ridiculous questions I don’t
audaciously ridiculous questions I don’t even know if that’s possible but I asked
even know if that’s possible but I asked
even know if that’s possible but I asked this question of Bud which was now
this question of Bud which was now
this question of Bud which was now granted you see like the scope of
granted you see like the scope of
granted you see like the scope of emotions we’ve been through so I asked
emotions we’ve been through so I asked
emotions we’ve been through so I asked bud do you have anything further you’d
bud do you have anything further you’d
bud do you have anything further you’d like to share and bud looks at me like
like to share and bud looks at me like
like to share and bud looks at me like are you kidding me
are you kidding me
are you kidding me but here’s the magical and beautiful
but here’s the magical and beautiful
but here’s the magical and beautiful thing bud answered me
now I have no illusions that I that that
now I have no illusions that I that that I’ve probably been called that before
I’ve probably been called that before
I’ve probably been called that before door but never has has that been so
door but never has has that been so
door but never has has that been so poetic or as symbolic I will be my
poetic or as symbolic I will be my
poetic or as symbolic I will be my mission as a photographer has always
mission as a photographer has always
mission as a photographer has always been grounded in the belief that humans
been grounded in the belief that humans
been grounded in the belief that humans do have this incredible ability and
do have this incredible ability and
do have this incredible ability and responsibility to hold each other’s
responsibility to hold each other’s
responsibility to hold each other’s truths and in lieu of what we often do
truths and in lieu of what we often do
truths and in lieu of what we often do which might be to reduce each other to
which might be to reduce each other to
which might be to reduce each other to simplistic or monochromatic versions of
simplistic or monochromatic versions of
simplistic or monochromatic versions of others and much of what I learned and
others and much of what I learned and
others and much of what I learned and saw as a teacher really fortified this
saw as a teacher really fortified this
saw as a teacher really fortified this belief in the late 90s I was teaching at
belief in the late 90s I was teaching at
belief in the late 90s I was teaching at a continuation High School in East
a continuation High School in East
a continuation High School in East Oakland California where most of the
Oakland California where most of the
Oakland California where most of the students had either been dismissed or
students had either been dismissed or
students had either been dismissed or expelled from other schools it’s
expelled from other schools it’s
expelled from other schools it’s important to understand though at that
important to understand though at that
important to understand though at that moment in history the binaries of
moment in history the binaries of
moment in history the binaries of Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area
Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area
Oakland and the San Francisco Bay Area were complex that new economy of
were complex that new economy of
were complex that new economy of dot-coms and startups that played a
dot-coms and startups that played a
dot-coms and startups that played a incredibly pivotal role in inner-city
incredibly pivotal role in inner-city
incredibly pivotal role in inner-city education if you’re living there there
education if you’re living there there
education if you’re living there there was a very real and a very palpable
was a very real and a very palpable
was a very real and a very palpable feeling of ambition that many were
feeling of ambition that many were
feeling of ambition that many were experiencing and enjoying from the
experiencing and enjoying from the
experiencing and enjoying from the prosperity of this tech boom in that in
prosperity of this tech boom in that in
prosperity of this tech boom in that in many ways was the Bay Area’s truth as
many ways was the Bay Area’s truth as
many ways was the Bay Area’s truth as complex as it was and if you were living
complex as it was and if you were living
complex as it was and if you were living there like I said it was intoxicating
there like I said it was intoxicating
there like I said it was intoxicating yeah yet that reoccurring and enduring
yeah yet that reoccurring and enduring
yeah yet that reoccurring and enduring truth that story of inner-city public
truth that story of inner-city public
truth that story of inner-city public education and its relationship to
education and its relationship to
education and its relationship to poverty that didn’t change and in fact
poverty that didn’t change and in fact
poverty that didn’t change and in fact in many ways the heightened economic
in many ways the heightened economic
in many ways the heightened economic growth prosperity and population growth
growth prosperity and population growth
growth prosperity and population growth it only created a further feeling of
it only created a further feeling of
it only created a further feeling of disenfranchisement for
disenfranchisement for
disenfranchisement for City Public Schools it only created a
City Public Schools it only created a
City Public Schools it only created a further disenfranchisement for students
further disenfranchisement for students
further disenfranchisement for students for families for teachers so it became
for families for teachers so it became
for families for teachers so it became my mission that the beauty and the truth
my mission that the beauty and the truth
my mission that the beauty and the truth of these young lives be seen it became
of these young lives be seen it became
of these young lives be seen it became my mission that the beauty truth and
my mission that the beauty truth and
my mission that the beauty truth and complexity of these young lives be paid
complexity of these young lives be paid
complexity of these young lives be paid attention to with the same sense of
attention to with the same sense of
attention to with the same sense of equity and fervor we were watching the
equity and fervor we were watching the
equity and fervor we were watching the growth of a new economy in the Bay Area
growth of a new economy in the Bay Area
growth of a new economy in the Bay Area so every day I would walk into my
so every day I would walk into my
so every day I would walk into my classroom with lesson plans in one hand
classroom with lesson plans in one hand
classroom with lesson plans in one hand and my camera and the other snapping
and my camera and the other snapping
and my camera and the other snapping portraits when I could and then on
portraits when I could and then on
portraits when I could and then on weekends I would sneak in to the local
weekends I would sneak in to the local
weekends I would sneak in to the local junior colleges darkroom and I would
junior colleges darkroom and I would
junior colleges darkroom and I would produce these fiber-based
produce these fiber-based
produce these fiber-based black-and-white fine art images and then
black-and-white fine art images and then
black-and-white fine art images and then I would take those images and I would
I would take those images and I would
I would take those images and I would hang them on the same cinderblock walls
hang them on the same cinderblock walls
hang them on the same cinderblock walls in my classroom my vision was simple and
in my classroom my vision was simple and
in my classroom my vision was simple and maybe even personal and that was to
maybe even personal and that was to
maybe even personal and that was to reimagine the public school classroom as
reimagine the public school classroom as
reimagine the public school classroom as an art gallery with a permanent but
an art gallery with a permanent but
an art gallery with a permanent but rotating exhibition that presented the
rotating exhibition that presented the
rotating exhibition that presented the beauty honesty and complexities of these
beauty honesty and complexities of these
beauty honesty and complexities of these lives the hard thing to measure was the
lives the hard thing to measure was the
lives the hard thing to measure was the impact of this over the course of time
impact of this over the course of time
impact of this over the course of time if every day these kids walked in to the
if every day these kids walked in to the
if every day these kids walked in to the classroom and these images were
classroom and these images were
classroom and these images were representation of themselves and others
representation of themselves and others
representation of themselves and others and how they would feel about seeing
and how they would feel about seeing
and how they would feel about seeing selves as fine art what I do know is
selves as fine art what I do know is
selves as fine art what I do know is that the impact of this and what I
that the impact of this and what I
that the impact of this and what I experienced was that when the kids
experienced was that when the kids
experienced was that when the kids walked into the classroom they were able
walked into the classroom they were able
walked into the classroom they were able to detach from an aggressive world a
to detach from an aggressive world a
to detach from an aggressive world a world that was filled with
world that was filled with
world that was filled with fight-or-flight stimuli and their
fight-or-flight stimuli and their
fight-or-flight stimuli and their responses to it and instead they entered
responses to it and instead they entered
responses to it and instead they entered into a world of images that in many ways
into a world of images that in many ways
into a world of images that in many ways presented them more accurately who they
presented them more accurately who they
presented them more accurately who they truly were internally
and complex human beings making the
and complex human beings making the unseen scene I believe those are that is
unseen scene I believe those are that is
unseen scene I believe those are that is the first step to not only inspiring but
the first step to not only inspiring but
the first step to not only inspiring but facilitating change bringing the subject
facilitating change bringing the subject
facilitating change bringing the subject to attention and it’s been my duty it’s
to attention and it’s been my duty it’s
to attention and it’s been my duty it’s been my intention if you will to use
been my intention if you will to use
been my intention if you will to use portrait photography as a way of
portrait photography as a way of
portrait photography as a way of supporting a world that works for
supporting a world that works for
supporting a world that works for everyone where nobody is left out in
everyone where nobody is left out in
everyone where nobody is left out in 2016 the United Nations refugee the
2016 the United Nations refugee the
2016 the United Nations refugee the United Nations refugee agency excuse me
United Nations refugee agency excuse me
United Nations refugee agency excuse me and the department of social services
and the department of social services
and the department of social services here in Virginia reported that 21.3
here in Virginia reported that 21.3
here in Virginia reported that 21.3 refugees had been displaced from their
refugees had been displaced from their
refugees had been displaced from their homeland due to ethnic political and
homeland due to ethnic political and
homeland due to ethnic political and religious persecution that amounted to
religious persecution that amounted to
religious persecution that amounted to 27 refugees per minute fleeing that same
27 refugees per minute fleeing that same
27 refugees per minute fleeing that same persecution here in Richmond last year
persecution here in Richmond last year
persecution here in Richmond last year we had 321 refugees seek resettlement in
we had 321 refugees seek resettlement in
we had 321 refugees seek resettlement in our community and of those 321 refugees
our community and of those 321 refugees
our community and of those 321 refugees 75% were children under the age of 15
75% were children under the age of 15
75% were children under the age of 15 and women and since 2013 our refugee
and women and since 2013 our refugee
and women and since 2013 our refugee community has exceeded over 1,600 I have
community has exceeded over 1,600 I have
community has exceeded over 1,600 I have had the opportunity over the last four
had the opportunity over the last four
had the opportunity over the last four or five months to work with Kate Ayers
or five months to work with Kate Ayers
or five months to work with Kate Ayers who is the executive director of
who is the executive director of
who is the executive director of reestablish rich men reestablished is a
reestablish rich men reestablished is a
reestablish rich men reestablished is a nonprofit that provides resettlement
nonprofit that provides resettlement
nonprofit that provides resettlement services for refugees and I’ve traveled
services for refugees and I’ve traveled
services for refugees and I’ve traveled around encampments and religious
around encampments and religious
around encampments and religious services and citizenship classes and
services and citizenship classes and
services and citizenship classes and driver’s ed classes and I have
driver’s ed classes and I have
driver’s ed classes and I have photographed portraits of this refugee
photographed portraits of this refugee
photographed portraits of this refugee community from the Republic of Congo
Afghanistan Iraq and Syria and like the
Afghanistan Iraq and Syria and like the multiple truths that inner city kids
multiple truths that inner city kids
multiple truths that inner city kids possess beyond what we often see or the
possess beyond what we often see or the
possess beyond what we often see or the multiple truths that Holocaust survivors
multiple truths that Holocaust survivors
multiple truths that Holocaust survivors want to share beyond what may be what we
want to share beyond what may be what we
want to share beyond what may be what we know this global community of refugees
know this global community of refugees
know this global community of refugees that are living and working and thriving
that are living and working and thriving
that are living and working and thriving right here in our own backyard in our
right here in our own backyard in our
right here in our own backyard in our community or living so courageously in
community or living so courageously in
community or living so courageously in the face of such global uncertainty when
the face of such global uncertainty when
the face of such global uncertainty when I first met this father he before he
I first met this father he before he
I first met this father he before he walked into the room he had placed if he
walked into the room he had placed if he
walked into the room he had placed if he will his daughter in the arch of a
will his daughter in the arch of a
will his daughter in the arch of a doorway
doorway
doorway positioning her so she could see him as
positioning her so she could see him as
positioning her so she could see him as we spent time together and as he walked
we spent time together and as he walked
we spent time together and as he walked into the room he held out his hands we
into the room he held out his hands we
into the room he held out his hands we held out her hands together and he his
held out her hands together and he his
held out her hands together and he his voice was trembling and he was shaking
voice was trembling and he was shaking
voice was trembling and he was shaking his head indicating that he did not
his head indicating that he did not
his head indicating that he did not speak nor did he understand English
speak nor did he understand English
speak nor did he understand English and I remember that trembling voice and
and I remember that trembling voice and
and I remember that trembling voice and I remember that he said two sentences
I remember that he said two sentences
I remember that he said two sentences that like even as I stand here right now
that like even as I stand here right now
that like even as I stand here right now I’m still startled by his courage and he
I’m still startled by his courage and he
I’m still startled by his courage and he said I speak Arabic I am Syrian he spoke
said I speak Arabic I am Syrian he spoke
said I speak Arabic I am Syrian he spoke those words for his daughter who was
those words for his daughter who was
those words for his daughter who was still in the archway of a doorway
still in the archway of a doorway
still in the archway of a doorway watching him he spoke those words for
watching him he spoke those words for
watching him he spoke those words for his wife who could not be with them he
his wife who could not be with them he
his wife who could not be with them he spoke those words for the community of
spoke those words for the community of
spoke those words for the community of refugees here
refugees here
refugees here and he spoke those words for a
and he spoke those words for a
and he spoke those words for a collective family of refugees that are
collective family of refugees that are
collective family of refugees that are still in Syria I asked the dad at one
still in Syria I asked the dad at one
still in Syria I asked the dad at one point before he came in I asked that
point before he came in I asked that
point before he came in I asked that before we took his portrait if he if we
before we took his portrait if he if we
before we took his portrait if he if we could get a portrait of he and his
could get a portrait of he and his
could get a portrait of he and his daughter and that was the moment that
daughter and that was the moment that
daughter and that was the moment that facilitated the shot we were just two
facilitated the shot we were just two
facilitated the shot we were just two dads trying to figure out how we’re
dads trying to figure out how we’re
dads trying to figure out how we’re gonna raise our daughters in this world
gonna raise our daughters in this world
gonna raise our daughters in this world and in many ways while it seemingly had
and in many ways while it seemingly had
and in many ways while it seemingly had nothing to do with why I was there or
nothing to do with why I was there or
nothing to do with why I was there or why we were there it actually had
why we were there it actually had
why we were there it actually had everything to do with why we were there
everything to do with why we were there
everything to do with why we were there and he picked his daughter up and just
and he picked his daughter up and just
and he picked his daughter up and just held her images are not the hope is that
held her images are not the hope is that
held her images are not the hope is that we can always always see and feel and
we can always always see and feel and
we can always always see and feel and hear the multiple truths of each other
hear the multiple truths of each other
hear the multiple truths of each other but more precisely that we hear these
but more precisely that we hear these
but more precisely that we hear these multiple truths from those who are most
multiple truths from those who are most
multiple truths from those who are most vulnerable call-to-action is less around
vulnerable call-to-action is less around
vulnerable call-to-action is less around what we can do right now than it is I
what we can do right now than it is I
what we can do right now than it is I wanted to leave you with this thought
wanted to leave you with this thought
wanted to leave you with this thought from Buckminster Fuller and he said I’m
from Buckminster Fuller and he said I’m
from Buckminster Fuller and he said I’m not here to counsel any of you to do
not here to counsel any of you to do
not here to counsel any of you to do anything special except accept dare to
anything special except accept dare to
anything special except accept dare to go with the truth and dare to love
go with the truth and dare to love
go with the truth and dare to love completely that’s all I got thank you
”
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