Social Commentary/Obesity | Time & Chance | Metamorphosis | Spirituality (more images form the exhibition here)
Spirituality
Barry Gross
The culmination of time, chance and energy is not yet fathomed. We are slowly, very slowly learning about the interconnection of energies, particles, micro and macro organisms, cosmic migration, other planets and wave lengths to say the least. What if the universe is an enormous type of brain accumulating thought patterns and storing energies for knowledge. In respect of science could it be that our bodies, souls, spirits other species and nature are tentacles providing enormous vigor for empowerment. Focus and the image says it all.
Neal Fox:
“Creation”
Creation takes all forms from the start of the universe, to the birth of a child, and all of man’s artistic endeavors. This video includes footage of the Exposed artists and their works-in-progress.
Presscott McDonald:
Recently I had the pleasure to visit Nigeria with some doctors from Global Network for Humanity on a fact finding mission. This image was captured during Sunday service at Borstal Remand Centre in Abeokuta. The boys may look happy but they are in a detention camp. The subject with his arms out and eyes closed was moved by the hymnal being sang at the moment. Just like the boys dressed in pink shirts and khakis shorts the camp is preened and staged for our arrival according to the boys. Borstal is one of three juvenile detention centers in Nigeria dealing with health issues, overcrowding and a lack of an adequate educational reform program.
In 1991 Dr. Ogunlesi AO conducted a case study on 51 juvenile delinquents residing at Nigerian Borstal Remand Centre. The mean age of the delinquents was 17-27 years. They were mostly from the low social class (70.6%) and the most common reason for admission was for being beyond parental control (68.6%). Identified risk factors found for juvenile delinquency were death of biological mother, parental marital failure, growing up with relatives rather than parents, drug abuse and ordinal position in the family. Possible cultural explanations for some of these observations were proffered. The need to improve on the living conditions of these juveniles and their assessment procedure were highlighted. Finally, it is imperative that the obsolete Nigerian Children and Young Person’s Law be updated.
PMID: 1775009 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
(Source: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)
Young men presently ranging from 12 to 30 years old fill these facilities. The number inmates have more than doubled since 1991, but the spaces have not grown. Global Network for Humanity whom commissioned me offer assistance to the centers to improve living conditions and reform education for the boys. They too also feel that it is, "imperative that the obsolete Nigerian Children and Young Person’s Law be updated."
Adela Holmes:
Last year for my birthday I treated myself to the absolute ultimate wish. To be left alone and to go on a discovery on my own. In a way the urge for a personal spiritual journey was calling. My way to find it was to take a road trip. The destination was somewhere towards Texas, then Oklahoma and Arkansas. From Miami that made a nice circle through the South East. As a photographer to have the freedom to stop anywhere I wished, to get away from daily life, to shut the mind, to forget the old and welcome the new, to recuperate and recharge, one can compare it to meditation or prayer. These photographs are the outcome from this journey.
