Personal Perspectives of L.A. Homelessness Highlighted in CSUN Professor’s Photography Exhibit

A silhouette of a person leaning against a traffic light pole.

Selfie taken by “How We See It” photography student, Cleta Felix-West.

 

California State University, Northridge journalism professor David Blumenkrantz will showcase photography by local homeless individuals at the Los Angeles United Methodist Museum of Social Justice from Jan. 16-26.

The photos were taken in a participatory workshop project titled “How We See It,” which pairs CSUN journalism seniors with community members who have experienced, or are currently experiencing, homelessness, at the Holy Family Service Center of the St. Charles Borromeo Church in North Hollywood.

The university students mentor individuals who frequent the church site in basic photography skills with an emphasis on street photography theory and practice and encourage documentation from a personal perspective.

“Besides the constructive activity and sense of accomplishment and identity the photography produces, for me what is astonishing is how good the photographs are,” Blumenkrantz said. “I’m as proud of this collection of images as I’ve been of any work done by my students from CSUN, it is right up there with the work done by my documentary photography classes over the past several years. I just love what they’ve done, and enjoy their company so much.”

“How We See It” is part of “One of Us,” an ongoing documentary project that aims to change the narrative of homelessness by providing a platform for self-representation for members of the Los Angeles homeless population.

An opening reception featuring a live performance of “The Bench,” a critically-acclaimed off-Broadway production by Robert Galinsky, will take place at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 18. The Museum of Social Justice is located at 115 Paseo De La Plaza in Los Angeles. For more information on the exhibit, and to RSVP for the opening reception, visit: https://www.museumofsocialjustice.org/future-exhibitions.html

Any proceeds raising from donations will be go to the One of Us Project to support the continuation of the workshop.

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