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Member Since: 11/2005  Last Seen: 2/28/2012

Gone Digital: Photographer Wants to Document Walls Worldwide

Seeded on Fri Mar 6, 2009 9:27 AM EST
Read ArticleArticle Source: claus-jacobsen.blogspot.com
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Seeded by Mykola Bilokonsky
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It's a dream of a lifetime for Michael Tracey, an American photographer living in Asheville NC:

If his project titled Breach The Wall is approved, he could win $50K to go into the world and produce a photo book. The contest joins his professional skills with his political passion, to bridge gaps and break down barriers between various groups of people.

"We have been building walls for as long as we could pile rock on rock, to separate ourselves from our neighbours. All these barriers fail. I will photograph these attempts at separation and how as human beings, not nations, we overcome", Michael Tracey writes.

edit here's a direct link to where you can go vote to support this project, courtesy of hemphill, below.

  • Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.

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Mykola Bilokonsky

This would sound like a cool idea even if the photographer in question wasn't occasional viner and husband to Newsvine Rockstar Celestina. It sounds like they could use some support to pursue their dream - if this sounds interesting to you, go vote for 'em!

  • 10 votes
Reply#1 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 9:28 AM EST
Killfile

That is a cool idea. Indeed, I might have to put Celestina in touch with some folks who talk about those divisions more metaphorically than physically.

  • 9 votes
#1.1 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 9:45 AM EST
Celestina

Thanks, Myk. I really do appreciate any help we can get. The end result we hope to produce (if we can get the funding) is a book which documents the effects of walls throughout time, their impact on the people they divide and their inevitable failure. It's one of those many things I think a lot of people know about without really thinking about the impact, the psychological meaning and (in my opinion) damage that results.

And of course, Killfile, I am always interested in talking to people who obsess in metaphors. *grin*

  • 9 votes
#1.2 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 10:34 AM EST
krishna-167929

Thanks, Myk. I really do appreciate any help we can get. The end result we hope to produce (if we can get the funding) is a book which documents the effects of walls throughout time, their impact on the people they divide and their inevitable failure

In some cases, however, they save lives (granted, peace would be better...but until it comes...?):

Indian Kashmir barrier fencing

The Indian Kashmir barrier is a 550 km (330 mile) separation barrier along the 740 km (460 mi) disputed 1972 Line of Control (or ceasefire line). The fence, constructed by India, is well inside territory on the Indian-controlled side. Its stated purpose is to exclude arms smuggling and infiltration by Pakistani-based separatist militants.

According to Indian military sources, the fence has reduced by 80% the numbers of militants who routinely cross into the Indian side of the disputed state to attack soldiers.

Here's more on these walls-- this might be useful: Current barriers

This one is also quite interesting: Separation barriers in history

  • 4 votes
#1.3 - Sun Mar 8, 2009 1:20 AM EST
Reply
hemphill

Here's a direct link to the voting site.

  • 6 votes
Reply#2 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 9:54 AM EST
Celestina

Thank you, hemphill. You're lovely.

We have also set up a website (in case anyone wants to keep track of how things are going).

  • 6 votes
#2.1 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 10:38 AM EST
Reply
Mego-507171

Awesome idea...I voted, and if published, I'll buy the book. I have several friends who lived and worked in Palestine. Their stories are quite interesting.

I live in Mexico with my husband, far from the border, but still for us it is has meaning. We wouldn't put a wall to separate our sides of the bed. We are intimate partners, and equals. When a wall is initiated by one or both parties, not only is it a failure of intellect and diplomacy, it sends the message that "We are better than you...and We don't want you amongst us" over time that mentality sort of grips the culture. I've seen it a lot in how some viners refer to and talk about Mexico. As my husband said: "The message is clear for most Mexicans, "we want your market that is why we created NAFTA, but don't care that much about your guys"

by guys he means people ;-)

Has anyone read The Butter Battle Book by Dr. Suess? It's a very clever book...

  • 6 votes
Reply#3 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 11:33 AM EST
Mogmismo

Thank you all for your support.

What kind of walls would you photograph? Are there any places we've missed around the world?

  • 6 votes
Reply#4 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 12:57 PM EST
Mykola Bilokonsky

Two bonus points if you find a way to photograph the use of language as a wall - "You're not one of us, you don't know our slang/jargon/ivory tower discursive terms/etc"

  • 7 votes
#4.1 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 1:44 PM EST
Mego-507171

In my city, the walls of one the nicest gated communities in town are right across the street from the Agropecuario (farmer's market)... It is a very interesting contrast.

Mykola I like your idea a lot!

  • 7 votes
#4.2 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 2:00 PM EST
Mogmismo

@Mykola - Actually, I'm hoping to take a dat recorder, and perhaps do some audio interviews/commentaries to slideshows of the places I'm going. I'll be looking for pictures that convey this concept and the audio will just bring it home. So, yes I may be able to do just that.

@Meo-507171 - How true that is. My town has a public housing project that is surrounded on 3 sides by expressways, and has 2 entrance roads that are frequently patrolled by police. Right across the road from the bridges is one of the towns nicer neighborhoods.

  • 6 votes
#4.3 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 6:31 PM EST
Mego-507171

Mogmismo,

Actually there is small town outside my father-in-law's ranch, the government built walls around the entire city because it was poor and ugly (or so I've been told). Walls like that are interesting. Not really meant to physically bar people from entering or exiting, but to reinvent the place in our minds, to not bothers us...

I also wonder, what is the point of having walls without a roof?

  • 5 votes
#4.4 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 6:41 PM EST
Mogmismo

Can you get me more information on that town? I'm looking for other destinations with walls for the trip to the US/Mexico border.

Also, I'd really appreciate you're vote, if you haven't voted yet:

http://www.nameyourdreamassignment.com/the-ideas/mogmismo/walls-the-way-we-separate-ourselves/

  • 3 votes
#4.5 - Fri Mar 6, 2009 7:07 PM EST
Mego-507171

Yes, I am planning on going to the ranch tomorrow. I will take some pictures so you have a better visualization. I

  • 4 votes
#4.6 - Sat Mar 7, 2009 11:23 AM EST
Mego-507171

Ok, unfortunately my father-in-law didn't take the normal route around Cañada Honda (in the state of Aguascalientes) to see the walls, but he went right through the town instead and gave me a little historical background. The center of the town is very old and in my opinion pretty. Some of the neighborhoods however, are poor, though not the worst. The walls were definitely put in place to make the city look nicer... I´m not even sure all the roads in that town are paved, so I have to question the use of money on such a project. Anyway the town used to be an old plantation, until the land was dispersed into ejidos. However, I am not sure when that happend.

  • 2 votes
#4.7 - Mon Mar 9, 2009 2:13 PM EDT
Reply
Cassandra

This is definitely an idea that needs to be pushed to completion. I hope, even if you don't win the contest and even if it takes you a few years, you can get it done.

  • 5 votes
Reply#5 - Sat Mar 7, 2009 9:44 AM EST
ann in Texas

I voted and am intrigued by the idea. Thanks for sharing this Myk, and good luck Celestina and Mogmismo!

  • 3 votes
Reply#6 - Mon Mar 9, 2009 1:48 PM EDT
azsky13

I voted as well. Good luck!

  • 2 votes
Reply#7 - Mon Mar 9, 2009 3:09 PM EDT
Mego-507171

I read this article earlier this week and I thought of this project. Perhaps you will find it interesting.

  • 1 vote
Reply#8 - Sat Mar 14, 2009 4:40 PM EDT
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