Poverty seen through the eyes of the poor

from the Chronicle Journal

By PETER BURKOWSKI

For those viewing a new photo exhibit, seeing is understanding.

The display, “Poverty in Thunder Bay: This is Reality”, is a collection of “photovoice” pieces by seven Thunder Bay residents living in poverty.

Co-ordinated by the Thunder Bay Economic Justice Committee), it consists of 25 photographs with accompanying text, intended to show poverty from the perspective of those experiencing it.

“I just want people to realize that (poverty) is here, and that we have to do something about it,” event co-ordinator Karli Brotchie said Thursday.

The participants were issued disposable cameras and given roughly three months to submit between three and five images.

The display was inspired by a similar project undertaken previously by committee partner the Canadian Mental Health Association.

The subject matter of the photos varies from scenes of nature, to close-up still lifes, to shots of urban decay.

The results were surprising – even to those involved.

“I think a lot of these people coming into the project weren‘t aware that they had an artistic side,” said Brotchie, “and through this they realized they really do have some skill.”

One of the photovoice artists was Tracy Hurlbert.

“I took pictures of . . . hearing aid batteries and food, because often I have to choose between hearing and eating,” said Hurlbert.

She learned about the project through friends, and was immediately interested in helping to raise awareness about how poverty affects her and many others in the city.

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