Chris Arnade photographs addicts in the South Bronx and tells their stories. “I am not a journalist, I don’t verify, just listen.”
Often devastating, yet still hopeful. Like Clarence, a former truck driver whose addiction brought “job loss, homelessness, health problems. Never once did he sound angry, bitter, or depressed,” or Takeesha, who wanted to be described “as what I am. A prostitute, a mother of six, and a child of God.”
Elsewhere, other faces: portraits of visitors to MoMA’s exhibit of Marina Abramović’s The Artist Is Present: “Abramović sits at a table in silence, and museum guests can sit across from her and stare.” Some crying, some pretty.
8 responses
“I am not a journalist, I don’t verify, just listen.” I guess we’re going to hear that caveat for a while.
this photo stream is astonishing in it’s beauty and humanity. the one i keep going back to is mister bishop. i want to hug him and tell him i am sorry for everything that was done to his childhood self. i wish i could ease his heart.
if you can look through Arnade’s collection, read the captions and not cry, I’m pretty sure you are a robot. pretty sure.
This is powerful and moving.
Was anybody else a little surprised that the photographer’s profile pic on both Flickr and Twitter shows him holding a beer? Alcohol addiction leaves its own special brand of carnage in its wake. I realize many (most) people can drink just fine and then put it down again, and not to detract from the great work he’s posting. It just struck me as odd.
One of them is a writer: http://www.flickr.com/photos/arnade/6867294961/in/set-72157627894114489/
Ray
Its funny, but you are the first to comment on that, after many many articles. I have thought about it a great deal. I pulled that picture, then reposted, then pulled again, and finally reposted.
In the end I decided its who I am. Much of what I am doing is taking pictures of people as who they are, so I better need be honest about me. And I drink, not to the point that I lose things valuable to me, but enough that it matters.
Point being, if I ask my subjects to be exposed, faults and all, I should try to do the same.
Chris,
Totally understand. And again, I wasn’t criticizing, it was just something that jumped out for me personally because I am (I guess it’s obvious) a recovering alcoholic and former meth addict. So I tend to notice little things like that. I don’t know why I thought it was worth mentioning; it seemed relevant in a way that now I am unable to explain, although I guess since you had second thoughts you know that feeling as well?
The whole series is spectacular. I like that you revisit the same people several times. Have you ever read David Simon’s “The Corner”? After he wrote Homicide, but before he started working on The Wire he spent about a year hanging out on corners with the addicts and dealers in West Baltimore, and wrote a book about their stories. It’s very similar to what you’re doing here.
Thank you for this. Anything that helps people see addicts and alcoholics as individuals with stories and dreams is a good thing.
I’ve posted the link everywhere I go.
Ray
First thanks. I actually lived in Baltimore for six years while in Grad School, but have never seen the wire or read the Corner. I did read and love Homicide.
No worry, I am just surprised no one else has ever mentioned the picture. As I said I pulled it a few times before putting it back up.
Congrats on kicking the habits. I have learned a great deal over the last year about addiction and how awful a disease it is. Good luck and god bless.
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