Watch Institute Fellow Eugene Richards' photographic exhibition, A Procession of Them, at 401 Projects in New York City.
The exhibition runs from November 26, 2008 to January 18, 2009.
About the exhibition:
Few human beings are subject to as much misunderstanding, cruelty, and neglect as the world's mentally disabled. Those who have been classified mentally ill or mentally retarded are too often abandoned or hidden away in psychiatric institutions, which are grossly overcrowded and unsanitary, and which offer little or nothing in the way of medical care or training. The mentally retarded are housed with the mentally ill, children with adults, those who are suffering physical illnesses with those who are not. Abuses such as beatings and rapes go unreported or unchecked. In some countries the homeless, the elderly who lack families, epileptics, and petty criminals are also placed into asylums, because they have nowhere else to go.
Confined in unheated, prison-like cells, utilizing filthy toilets, bathing in ice-cold water, heavily-medicated, or wandering uncared for through the garage-like wards, these patients live out their lives in what can only be called the shadows, with little or no chance of ever leaving.
Working first as a journalist, later as a volunteer for the human rights and advocacy organization, Mental Disability Rights International, Eugene Richards gained access to psychiatric institutions in Mexico, Armenia, Paraguay, Hungary, Kosovo, and Argentina. His intimate images reveal the personalities and tragic beauty of the patients while chronicling the often-inhumane treatment suffered by them.
Eugene Richards's book, A Procession of Them, and his short film of the same name drive home the point that when it comes to the plight of the world's mentally disabled, no one much cares. As Richards concludes, "It's as if there's a kind of worldwide agreement that once people are classified as mentally ill or mentally retarded, you're free to do with them what you want."
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November 26 - January 18
A Procession of Them: Photo Exhibition
Location: 401 Projects, New York
Watch Institute Fellow Eugene Richards' photographic exhibition, A Procession of Them, at 401 Projects in New York City.
The exhibition runs from November 26, 2008 to January 18, 2009.
About the exhibition:
Few human beings are subject to as much misunderstanding, cruelty, and neglect as the world's mentally disabled. Those who have been classified mentally ill or mentally retarded are too often abandoned or hidden away in psychiatric institutions, which are grossly overcrowded and unsanitary, and which offer little or nothing in the way of medical care or training. The mentally retarded are housed with the mentally ill, children with adults, those who are suffering physical illnesses with those who are not. Abuses such as beatings and rapes go unreported or unchecked. In some countries the homeless, the elderly who lack families, epileptics, and petty criminals are also placed into asylums, because they have nowhere else to go.
Confined in unheated, prison-like cells, utilizing filthy toilets, bathing in ice-cold water, heavily-medicated, or wandering uncared for through the garage-like wards, these patients live out their lives in what can only be called the shadows, with little or no chance of ever leaving.
Working first as a journalist, later as a volunteer for the human rights and advocacy organization, Mental Disability Rights International, Eugene Richards gained access to psychiatric institutions in Mexico, Armenia, Paraguay, Hungary, Kosovo, and Argentina. His intimate images reveal the personalities and tragic beauty of the patients while chronicling the often-inhumane treatment suffered by them.
Eugene Richards's book, A Procession of Them, and his short film of the same name drive home the point that when it comes to the plight of the world's mentally disabled, no one much cares. As Richards concludes, "It's as if there's a kind of worldwide agreement that once people are classified as mentally ill or mentally retarded, you're free to do with them what you want."
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January 15
|| 8:30 am
Deepa Fernandes Wins North Star News Prize
Location: 4 Times Square, NYC
Institute Fellow Deepa Fernandes is one of three winners of the North Star News Prize, which recognizes people of color who have made outstanding contributions to journalism, media and communications, and public understanding of the struggle for social justice. The other two awardees are Carol Jenkins and Jeff Chang.
The reception will take place on Thursday, January 15, 2009 from 8.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. at the offices of Skadden Arps LLP at 4 Times Square, New York City. Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel and Barbara Winslow will host the awards in the company of more than 200 journalists, media makers, philanthropists and community activists.
The North Star Fund supports grassroots groups leading the movement for equality, economic justice and peace. By organizing donors, raising money for grants, and providing technical assistance, North Star Fund supports activism focusing on the root causes of poverty, racism homophobia and gender discrimination. Since its founding in 1979, the organization has distributed more than 27 million dollars to 3,700 groups working to ensure a more equitable and democratic city for all New Yorkers.
For more information, click here.
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January 24 - May 16
Out of the Global City: An Uncommon Dialogue Series
Location: St. Mark’s Church Parish Hall, NYC
Over the past decades, New York City – alongside London, Tokyo and an increasing number of urban centers around the world – has emerged as a global city, a geographic node where global finance is organized, concentrated, re-dispersed, and circulated. Decisions made in these metropolitan centers impact the lives of countless people across the world. As the recent economic upheaval illustrates, this is simultaneously a powerful and vulnerable reality. In New York, we bear witness to the ways in which the basic elements of our livelihood – from work to housing to education to heath care – are increasingly shaped by the needs of global finance that put profits before people.
Join us for this free lecture series as we explore what living in the global city of New York means. Through it, we hope to nurture deeper engagement between the arts and social justice sectors to imagine and work toward a more just city (and world).
January 24: Work and Labor
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Who makes New York City run – and for whom? How is work in the global city organized?
February 21: Public Education
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
What is the future of public education in New York City? Will our schools –
which represent the last remaining universal public good in the United States – remain public?
March 21: Health Care
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
How will the fiscal crisis and budget cuts impact health care in New York City?
Is universal health care on the horizon?
April 18-24: Housing and Gentrification
A week-long series of events co-sponsored by The Foundry; The Center for Place, Culture, and Politics; The Left Forum; The Maysles Cinema’s Rent Control Film Series; & The Nation Institute.
Starbucks Starbucks everywhere, but not a drop to drink… Now that everyone’s neighborhood has been impacted by gentrification, what’s next?
April 18th 4 p.m. - 6 p.m., St. Mark’s Church; April 22nd & 24th 7 p.m. at Maysles Cinema*.
May 16: The Safe City
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
Safe for whom?
June TBD: The Economy
Where are we now? We invite people back for a cross-sector conversation about how the economic shift has impacted their organizations.
All events, unless otherwise indicated, will take place at:
St. Mark’s Church Parish Hall , 131 E 10th St, between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, New York City.
FREE!
Childcare and interpretation provided.
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February 6
|| 7:30 pm
Eugene Richards Presents His Two Latest Books
Location: Fotovision, San Francisco
Listen to Institute Fellow Eugene Richards present his two latest books of photography, A Procession of Them and The Blue Room. Richards will be signing books after the event.
105 North Gate Hall, Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley, Hearst & Euclid, Berkeley, CA 94704.
$12.
For more information, click here.
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February 18
Lecture/Signing at the ICP
Location: New York City
Renowned photographer and Institute Fellow Eugene Richards will give a lecture at the International Center of Photography in New York City, after which he will sign copies of his two latest books, A Procession of Them and The Blue Room.
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