Hurricane Katrina

Last week I recorded 'When the levees broke' (Spike Lee) on BBC Four about Hurricane Katrina and its on-going effects on New Orleans.

I remember much of the controversy at the time when the people were left by the government without food, water or aid for days, where the sham of America's 'classless' society was shown for what it is.  I guess I should not have been surprised to hear that when people were moved out of the New Orleans area in the aftermath of the hurricane, families were separated across a number of different states and have not been encouraged/facilitated to return home - this dilution or loss of New Orleans culture.

The property developers circle like vultures trying to buy the land from people who were fighting to get their insurance companies to pay out.  This parallels what Naomi Klein describes in her book 'The Shock Doctrine' where the Tsunami was used to clear the beaches of the fishing people in favour of tourism. 


In a statement made by director Spike Lee about the film he states, "New Orleans is fighting for its life. These are not people who will disappear quietly — they're accustomed to hardship and slights, and they'll fight for New Orleans. This film will showcase the struggle for New Orleans by focusing on the profound loss, as well as the indomitable spirit of New Orleaneans."

I was also really struck by the graffiti messages left on walls, houses, cars about what was happening.  These messages seem to carry a different quality about them; having seeing many, many images of people in post-disaster scenarios.  In researching these on-line, I came across Richard Misrach's 'Destroy This Memory' - a catalogue of graffitied reactions by the residents of New Orleans http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/american-graffiti-how-new-orleans-residents-used-spray-paint-to-voice-their-feelings-about-hurricane-katrina-2061836.html 

Banksy in St Leonards-on-Sea

I think I must've been the last to know that Banksy had visited St Leonards!  I was visiting my mum in Bexhill when I saw the pic on the front cover of the Hastings Observer.

The pic had been there for about a week when we visited it.  The usual arguments of street art v graffiti had played out in the paper and the image had already been vandalised, cleaned up, covered with perspex and that partially broken.

We met a couple who had come down from Ashford for the day specially to see it!  and was very interesting eavesdropping on conversations on the meaning of the image!

smokescreen 2009

Part of my final major project for my degree

Projecting an image of myself (age 15) onto the smoke of a bonfire and letting the movement of the smoke animate the image

Audrey's Family Album 2009

An exploration into life behind the images.  

The family album often records the high days and holidays.  I wanted to explore the stories - the dynamics and politics - the smiling faces often hide.

Influences

Sue Isherwood - Family Album

Jo Spence/Rosy Martin

Michael Lesy - Wisconsin Death Trip (film)

Richard Billingham - Reinterpreting Unconventional Family Photographs & Ray's a Laugh

Party 2008

Work made in response to the chosen exhibition space for our Level 2 external exhibition module.  The were the remnants of previous parties still in evidence when we visited.

The exhibition was at the Cellar Bar of the Beechwood Hall Hotel, Worthing

They were two separate but connected pieces

Happy birthday was exhibited with Ed Mead's music 

Boat Cemeteries

Brittany 2006

I discovered these whilst on holiday.  They seem to die and decay with quiet dignity.

Shot on 35mm SLR.  Hand developed printed and vignetted

Currently available as digital prints from scanned negatives