Showing Israel/Palestine Photos
Last weekend I took part for the first time in an annual local event, Brookline Artists’ Open Studios. My BAOS blurb said this: “Photography from abstracts to photojournalism, recent Israel/Palestine focus.” In addition to the more-typical art-lovers who wandered by, a number of visitors told me they were drawn by the Israel/Palestine mention. Some of them stayed a long time, talking about the politics behind the photos, asking about my impressions, and watching parts of a slideshow I set up alongside some of the prints. Those who stuck around seemed pretty much on my political wavelength.
Even those who came without Israel/Palestine in mind seemed to take the photojournalism in stride. I wasn’t sure how this would go, here in heavily-Jewish liberal Brookline where, as I’ve noted over the years, Israel’s faults just aren’t on most town residents’ radar. Indeed, a few BAOS visitors left quickly after glancing at my wall. Israeli soldiers tear-gassing nonviolent Bil’in protestors wasn’t what they were looking for.
I showed other photos, too, in somewhat separate spaces - abstracts, portraits, landscapes. Listening to two days of positive feedback about these was very exciting, especially since I’ve never shown my non-I/P work like this before. I even sold a few prints and photobooks, tempting me to try to do more so I can upgrade my camera equipment and software before my next Middle East visit.
Technorati Tags: Israel, Palestine, photography, photojournalism
