Focus on the Vote tells the stories of those working to advance, protect and participate in the vote and that such participation matters to safeguard our democracy. The photographs, taken over eight years and from over 24 states, are designed inform and encourage all eligible voters to use their right to vote.
For more than three decades, I’ve documented people’s participation in the vote: registering voters, knocking on doors, attending rallies, working the polls, watching the polls, counting ballots, standing in line, and voting. All of which is exercising the belief that every vote matters.
I was in the first wave of 18-year-olds eligible to vote. My college made it easy with a polling station in the student union. Until I first went to Selma to photograph a group mobilizing and protecting Black voters, I thought voting rights were the same across our country. They weren’t and aren’t.
In 2020, I decided to photograph a year-long election cycle. What could possibly happen? I traveled over 24,000 miles, much during the height of the COVID pandemic, to photograph the start of the Iowa caucus through the Georgia runoffs to the J6 aftermath and Inauguration Day.
I’ve returned to states I previously photographed and added new ones. I’ve sought out population groups whose participation rarely makes news cycles, such as prisoners awaiting trial. The project consciously focuses on places and people where the battles for representation and voting rights have been and continue to be fought.
Artist Bios
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Sue Dorfman
Sue Dorfman is a USA-based documentary photographer, media producer and media strategist. She uses her camera to tell the stories of people’s lives and livelihoods, with a particular emphasis on documenting human rights, social conditions and the arts. Over the years, she has photographed women working in a New England garment shop, Israelis and Palestinians searching for peace, life under apartheid South Africa, and Maine herbalists at work.
As part of a larger personal project, Documenting Democracy, the photos in Focus on the Vote capture the stories of those working to safeguard and advance the right to vote across much of the United States.
She is a Photographic Nights of Selma photographer and an alum of the Kalish Workshop, Apeiron Workshop, and the Maine Media Workshops. As a ZUMA Press photographer, her images have appeared nationally and internationally. Her work has been commissioned by non-profit organizations and foundations, including the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Organizations
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Photoville
Founded in 2011 in Brooklyn, NY, Photoville was built on the principles of addressing cultural equity and inclusion, which we are always striving for, by ensuring that the artists we exhibit are diverse in gender, class, and race.
In pursuit of its mission, Photoville produces an annual, city-wide open air photography festival in New York City, a wide range of free educational community initiatives, and a nationwide program of public art exhibitions.
By activating public spaces, amplifying visual storytellers, and creating unique and highly innovative exhibition and programming environments, we join the cause of nurturing a new lens of representation.
Through creative partnerships with festivals, city agencies, and other nonprofit organizations, Photoville offers visual storytellers, educators, and students financial support, mentorship, and promotional & production resources, on a range of exhibition opportunities.
For more information about Photoville visit, www.photoville.com
Focus on the Vote
Featuring: Sue Dorfman
Locations
ON VIEW AT: #60
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
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The views and opinions expressed in this exhibit are those of the exhibition artists and partners and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of Photoville or any other participants and partners of the Photoville Festival.
