The 15th annual Photoville festival in New York features over 90 photographic exhibits from around the world, ranging from whimsical apple studies to hard-hitting documentaries on wildfires, water inequality, and ICE's impact on communities. Co-founder Sam Barzilay highlights the festival's diversity, including a whimsical exhibit on apples that celebrates nature's uniqueness.
Trans Lives Through the Decades
In response to efforts to erase trans identities, Photoville presents two exhibits affirming trans existence. 'Special Girls' showcases 1990s photographs by Remsen Wolff, featuring trans women, crossdressers, and drag queens. Archivist Jochem Brouwer, fulfilling a promise to Wolff, notes that Wolff photographed individuals with deep respect. 'Point of View' pairs self-portraits by Dutch college students exploring gender with art from the Rijksmuseum, aiming to normalize trans lives and encourage gender exploration.
Immigration and Family Separation
Lexi Parra's 'The Avillas' documents the aftermath of a matriarch's self-deportation amid Trump-era threats, offering a painful look at family disruption. Barzilay describes it as a reflection on lives trying to move forward after loss.
Puppies Behind Bars: A Transformative Program
Photographers Ashley Gilbertson and Ava Pellor spent nearly two years in Green Haven maximum security prison documenting 'Puppies Behind Bars,' where inmates raise service dogs. Founder Gloria Gilbert Stoga intentionally sought a war photographer to capture the extreme prison environment. Gilbertson, known for Iraq war photos, and Pellor, who has documented wildfires and border crossings, reveal how dog-raising humanizes a dehumanizing space. 'The dogs give men a chance to show vulnerability and responsibility,' Gilbertson says. Pellor recalls an inmate crying when receiving his puppy, holding it all day.
Cultural Heritage and Sweetgrass
Blackfeet photographer Whitney Snow's 'The Women's Grass' explores the cultural significance of sweetgrass, used in ceremonies and medicine. Snow consulted elders to document respectfully, aiming to convey calm and connection to nature. 'I wanted someone to feel good when they look at the photos,' she says.
Throughout Photoville, themes of joy and humanity prevail. As Barzilay notes, many projects evoke happiness, making viewers feel better. The festival runs from 16-30 May at Brooklyn Bridge Park and other New York venues.
