See Me Because is an exhibition and platform for young people from historically underrepresented communities to portray the complex narratives of their identities, asking the world to see them as they choose to be seen.
Art Start believes that the exercise of creation and authorship over one’s identity is an exercise in true freedom—a liberation not often experienced by historically under-resourced communities. When we create, we occupy a space of inherent optimism. When we proactively create, our “possibility” factor comes from within ourselves, without permission from external persons or systems. Over time, this can profoundly alter how we interact with opportunity and how we approach its obstacles.
Art Start’s mantra is: “Imagine. Believe. Create. Become.” It starts with the freedom to imagine, the courage to believe, and the resources and safe space to create before we have a chance to recreate ourselves throughout our lives. The See Me Because platform gives youth and young adults a framework to explore their complex personal narratives through the creative arts, oral histories, and portraiture.
Through workshops, in-depth dialogues, oral history interviews, and photoshoots, participants explore their personal identity and envision their lives beyond circumstance and stereotype. With support from world-class photographers, retouchers, stylists, and oral historians, those visions come to life, offering a platform for self-determination, representation, and freedom.
Artist Bios
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Nick Collura
Nick is a commercial photographer specializing in advertising, assignment, and portrait photography. Nick has a wide variety of experience, including advertising, product and lifestyle photography, retouching, and color correction. His experience includes shooting alone or with large production crews, including creative directors, hair and makeup stylists, both in studio and on location, and he is interested in expanding his experience through working with creatives with interesting and diverse styles. Born and raised in the Midwest, he travels the country and abroad, creating beautiful images for great people.
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Heidi Gutman
Heidi Gutman is a New York-based photographer specializing in entertainment and documentary photography. Her clients include ABC, NBC, Bravo, USA Network, CNN, The Food Network, HarperCollins, and Hyperion.
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Zachary Maxwell Stertz
Zachary Maxwell Stertz is a member of Art Start’s Board of Directors and a New York-based photographer who specializes in portraiture, music, and dance photography. His client list includes Cline Davis Mann, Coty, Discovery Channel, History Channel, Investigation Discovery, Manhattan Theater Club, National Geographic Channel, NBC/Universal, The New York Times, and many other corporate and private entities. Whether capturing images in motion, where every split second counts, or creating a composition with just the right lighting and detail, Zachary believes collaboration is the key to delivering impactful images. He has been an integral part of Art Start’s Portrait Project since its inception in 2013.
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Mary Ellen Mathews, Courtesy of Art Start
Organizations
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Art Start
Art Start uses the creative process to nurture the voices, hearts, and minds of youth from historically marginalized communities. Through workshops, residencies, and industry collaborations, art becomes a catalyst for personal and professional growth, as well as a platform for meaningful dialogue about the future of our communities.
Working at the intersection of the creative industries, education, and youth development, Art Start partners with public schools, post-secondary arts programs, youth organizations, alternative sentencing programs, and residences for those experiencing homelessness. For more than 30 years, Art Start has engaged thousands of young people with the support of dedicated artist educators and volunteers, earning national recognition for its impactful model.
Over the past decade, the featured commercial photographers Zachary Maxwell Stertz, Heidi Gutman, Nick Collura, and Mary Ellen Matthews have contributed to the Art Start Portrait Project, collaborating with hundreds of young people.
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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
See Me Because
Featuring: Nick Collura Heidi Gutman Zachary Maxwell Stertz Mary Ellen Mathews, Courtesy of Art Start
Locations
View Location Details Download a detailed map of this location Brooklyn Bridge Park – Emily Warren Roebling Plaza1 Water St
Brooklyn, NY 11201
This location is part of Brooklyn Bridge Park
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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.
