The Bronx Documentary Center (BDC) is proud to present the work of our 11-to-18-year-old Bronx Junior Photo League (BJPL) students, all created during their time in quarantine.
In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the BDC made the decision in March to move to remote learning. The education programs resumed online and students created visual and written explorations of their experiences during this time, finding ways to tell stories about mental health, undocumented families, religious practices, and life under lockdown, as well as the direct consequences of CoViD-19, including recovering from illness and losing loved ones.
The coronavirus has touched everyone’s life in some way, but the South Bronx, the poorest urban congressional district in the United States, has had the highest rates of coronavirus cases in the country. Students in the BJPL have been documenting social justice issues and community-based stories since 2013, they have always risen to the occasion to decry and document injustices. So it is no surprise that, despite surviving a global crisis, they have continued to dig deeper on the stories that are important to them, exploring and engaging with the world around them–albeit now a much smaller physical reality.
There are nearly 40 projects presented in this year-end celebration of the BJPL students’ work. These stories, from the too-often-unseen empathetic lens of our youth, are a critical testament of this crucial time in our country’s history.
The Bronx Junior Photo League is made possible, in part, by the Chris Hondros Fund, Citgo Foundation, Clif Family Foundation, Fujifilm, Hyde & Watson Foundation, Henry Nias Foundation, by public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and by City Council member Rafael Salamanca, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and State Legislature, Phillip and Edith Leonian Foundation, and the William Talbott Hillman Foundation.
All digital photos taken on DSLR cameras were generously provided by Fujfilm.
Featured image caption: The photographer’s mother and siblings slept into the late morning after a long night of waiting up to eat. During the month of Ramadan, Muslims are fast every day from dawn to sunset. Lucki Islam documented her family’s experience of Ramadan, and her own spiritual journey, while in isolation. May 07, 2020. © Lucki Islam, 11th grade.
Virtual Exhibition On View
June 17-28, 2020
Middle School Online Opening Reception + Presentation
Wednesday, June 17, 2020, 06:00 p.m. – 07:30 p.m.
High School Online Opening Reception + Presentation
Thursday, June 18,2020, 06:00 p.m.m – 07:30 p.m.
Featuring:
Matthew Almeydas | Gianna Almonte | Fanny Aucacama | Jared Birks | Paloma Boyewa-Osborne | Justin Brefo | Heidi Calderon | Elisa Luna Cameron | Brandon Carchipulla | Anastasia Cardona | Izaiah Cardona | Ana Carmona | Raymond Castillo | Olympia Chen | Jade Delilah Park | Fanta Diop | Awa Fofana | Fritzi Garcia | Alberto Garcia | Lucki Islam | Savannah Juste | Tiara Maldonado | Tianna Maldonado | Taylor Moorman | Sophia Morales | Reynaldo Olivera | Alexa Pacheco | Carlos Pacheco | Chloe Rodriguez | Pamela Rozon | Tara Smalls | Paola Soto | Nnyala Stark | Adanna Taylor | Eliezer Vargas | Dylan Velez | Lorena Vicente | Brian Yelez | Gianni Zambrano
Bronx Documentary Center
614 Courtland Avenue
Bronx, NY 10451
Tel.: 718-993-3512
E–mail: info@bronxdoc.org
