July 5th, 2013 “Hey Bro, well its 7 months today since you was taken away from us . . . I know you don’t want to see us down & heart broken. It is going to get harder b4 it get easy but we trying.” Since the murder of her twin brother on December 5th of 2012, Elena Jo McElwee, writes to him on the 5th day of every month. She fills the blank space on her bedroom walls with notes to her brother. She must maintain this connection with him. She must never forget.
In Chester, Pennsylvania families are seeking justice and yearning for ways to heal. With one of the highest homicide rates in the country, the city has sustained unresolved loss of hundreds of lives over the last twenty years. Oppressive social structures and negligent law enforcement have lead to prolonged, collective trauma. Family photos are tucked in albums and other keepsakes stowed away in drawers. By opening drawers and revisiting albums, this work aims to restore fragile memories and forge pathways to justice, healing, and restitution for the families of Chester.
Artist Bios
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Justin Maxon
Justin Maxon’s desire is to reveal different variables of truth in humanity’s conflicted existence. He was born in 1983 in a small town in the woods of northern California and studied Journalism at San Francisco State. Maxon has received numerous accolades for his photography; he was selected to participate in World Press Photo’s 2010 Joop Swart Masterclass, he received the Magnum Foundation’s Emergency Fund Grant and the 2012 Alexia Foundation Professional Grant for World Peace. He has worked on feature stories for publications such as TIME, Rolling Stone, Newsweek, Mother Jones, Fader, The New York Times, and NPR.
Organizations
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Magnum Foundation
Magnum Foundation expands creativity and diversity in visual storytelling, activating new audiences and ideas through the innovative use of images. Through grant making, mentorship, and creative collaborations, we partner with socially-engaged imagemakers exploring new models for storytelling.
This program was produced with the support of Magnum Foundation’s Counter Histories initiative supporting projects that creatively reframe the past to engage with urgent questions of the present and future.
Heaven’s Gain
Featuring: Justin Maxon
Locations
View Location Details Brooklyn Bridge Park – Pier 5 UplandsBrooklyn,
NY 11201
Location open 24 hours
Exhibition Design by Kiersten Nash, By Design.
Related Events
Documenting Communities Impacted by Gun Violence
The Magnum Foundation’s panel discussion will highlight the experiences of photographers and activists working in communities affected by gun violence. Issues of access, process, and protection for photographers will be addressed. Organized in conjunction with MF’s installation at Photoville: Heaven’s Gain: Recent work by Justin Maxon.
Learn More