September 5 - October 4, 2020

Being Seen

Photographs by ANN Rosen

Opening reception: Saturday, Sept. 12, 5-8pm


Invoking intimacy is at the heart of Ann Rosen's artistic process. Her book In the Presence of Family, published in 2018, shows the countless ways families are created. The warm bond between the sitters and the photographer leaves a trace in each photograph. 

The photographs in Being Seen came out of an art and photography workshop the artist conducted with women who lived in a shelter in Brooklyn. The women collaborated with the artist on these portraits; the photographs reflect the way the participants wanted to be seen. Several women decided to share their life stories with the public through texts and other media, also included in the exhibition. As in each photograph taken by Rosen, these subjects look into the camera and pose, sometimes with humor, and always with pride.

Social Distancing: For the opening reception 12 people will be allowed in the space at a time. To reserve a time slot please contact hanne@fivemyles.org  

Artist statement:

“Ann Rosen’s portraits create a space for her subjects to be proud of whoever and whatever they are, pushing aside the status quo values and judgements that attempt to prescribe who they can be and who they can love. 

In doing so, her subjects’ pride and vibrancy forces us to question society’s negative views of these diverse women in the first place. These portraits allow them to show their true selves, not anyone else’s interpretation of who they should be. Their joy shows that transformation can only come through recognizing each other’s true humanity- and thereby forces the viewer to recognize (and begin to tear down) the social and political structures that keep us from doing so.”

Gallery Hours:

Thursday - Sunday, 1 - 6pm, or by appointment. Please email hanne@fivemyles.org, or call 718-783-4438.
Please wear a facemask to visit the gallery. Visitors without masks cannot be let inside. Thank you for your cooperation.

DIRECTIONS:

Take 2, 3, or 4 trains to Franklin Avenue. Walk two blocks against the traffic on Franklin. Walk ¾ block to 558 St. Johns Place. FiveMyles is within easy walking distance from the Brooklyn Museum.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

FiveMyles is in part supported by the New York State Council for the Arts, Public Funds from the New York City Dept. of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Council Member Laurie Cumbo, the Greenwich Collection, The Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation, the Shelley and Donald Rubin Foundation, and the Wolf Kahn and Emily Mason Foundation.