My name is Vanessa Bahmani, I’m a Brooklyn based artist and photographer. I recently launched a Kickstarter Campaign to help fund the completion of my photography project titled “We Are the 99%”.
This project consists of compiling over 1,000 black and white film portraits taken with a medium format camera, at the various occupy NYC, and occupy Oakland locations.
I began this photo project in October to counter the mainstream media perceptions that the protesters were only ‘crazy hippies’ or had ‘no clear message’.
Since then, I’ve photographed over 200 men, women, children, investment bankers, doctors, students, pilots, veterans, members of the 1%, and even Wall Street employees.
I simply set-up a photo booth on-site, hand people a dry-eraser board and a marker and ask them to write their reason for being at OWS.
The thoughtfulness and sincerity that people have shown has inspired me to pursue this work and expand it. The project is a testimony of the parallel concerns among protesters despite their diverse backgrounds.
This project is important because it’s documenting a moment in history when we all came together with the common goal to create a more just and fair society for everyone.
Despite the on-going park evictions and attempts to silence the movement, I will carry on with my project. I believe that by giving this work exposure, I can amplify the volume of the voices of the 99%.
This work was recently included in a group show at Rush Arts Gallery in Chelsea (Dec. 1-10), and is currently on the CURATE NYC on-line gallery. It will also be featured at “Occupy Wall Street” exhibit at the South Street Seaport Museum, NYC late January through Spring 2012.
Please visit the Kickstarter Campaign to make a monetary contribution and support the completion of this work. occupyportraits
Or visit Vanessa Bahmani’s website for more information: vanessabahmani.com
