Photography as Therapy:
Jessica Kalmar and Jennifer Macioce are collaborating on a photography based project using Photovoice as a template. Photovoice is a research project developed by the Boston University’s Center for Psychiatric Rehabilitation that explores and exposes ignorance, prejudice, and discrimination through photographs and narratives. In the past, Jennifer and Jessica used Photovoice for a project titled Sharing Your World at a day treatment center for adults diagnosed with mental illness. Each participant grew more confident, while helping to educate the public by way of exhibitions and partnerships.
Photo Stories is their newest project. By combining Jennifer’s professional experience and therapeutic work, and Jessica’s art background and experience in teaching photography, they are focusing on breaking down the stigma around mental illness, problem gambling, addictions, grief, people who are Deaf, Deafblind (with SSP assistance) or hard of hearing, developmental disorders, and autism. The photographs made by people experiencing these issues will be paired with their own words forming stories that capture how they, or their family members, are affected. If you are interested in participating please email us at ourvoicejj@gmail.com
By using the workbooks provided by the Photovoice project, Jennifer and Jessica refer to the following questions in efforts to help each person write narratives with their photographs.
- What do you see here?
- What is really happening here?
- How does this relate to our lives?
- Why does this problem, resource, or situation exist?
- How could this image educate others, the community, and policy makers?
- What can we do about the problem, resource, or situation?
