arbus took my pic
Meeting Jan was a moving experience. I met her at Be A Villen! The show was a collection of artwork made by students, to help them cope with loss. The exhibit was in part in memory of Brian Liberatore.
She said she had been to too many funerals. Funerals for young people. I didn't realize there was so much tragedy among the youth in Somerville. When I asked her what was on her mind, her words opened a floodgate to her thoughts, from violence and art, to gentrification in her neighborhood. Tears occasionally welled up in her eyes.
I feel like so much of what we do as photojournalists is listen. Sometimes it just takes asking the right questions for people to share something with you...
On a side note, she mentioned she had been photographed by Amy Arbus, daughter of renown photographer Diane Arbus over 25 years ago. She's on page 37 of Arbus' book On the Street. I'll let her tell you in her own words. Read the review entitled "I'm page 37!"
The beauty of the story is that almost 25 years later after meeting on the street the two met again in Boston. Apparently Arbus had been looking for Jan. So, I had to go to the library and see the picture. You should too.
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Contributors
blogger
Name Yoon S. Byun
Age 28
Hometown It’s complicated.
Residence Davis Square.
Occupation Photographer/Photojournalist.
Location of Photograph My living room (photo by Channing Johnson)
On my mind What’s on your mind ...
Hello Yoon,
I just came across this nice piece that you wrote. People were very surprised when they saw my photo in the Globe...because I look so somber and serious...I generally giggle a lot. Since I met you, I've been to New York twice. First to be interviewed and rephotographed for a documentary about ON THE STREET...and then to see the film, a work in progress by John Spellos, screened at Lincoln Center as part of their film series. It's all been very exciting! It was a pleasure to talk to you at the Villen show, and thank you for the opportunity!
Jan