ABOUT USBy Shelia Turner
Flash forward to 1993, when an informal group of female photographers of African- American descent gathered together in Atlanta, Georgia to discuss ways to creatively express themselves through the photographic arts. A democratic collective was later formed and named “Sistagraphy”. The term combines “sista“ with “graphy” and means love for each other and gratitude for the photographic medium as a means of expression. From the outset, the goal of Sistagraphy has been to provide a forum for black women photographers to examine the contemporary and historical issues that affect our society through the photographic medium. As the only known collective of this kind, Sistagraphy holds a unique place in the history of photography in the United States. Sistagraphy has over 50 exhibitions since its inception in 1993. |
Sistagraphy has exhibited widely, including the City of Atlanta, Bureau of Cultural Affairs Chastain Gallery, the Hammonds house Galleries and Resource Center, the Contemporary, the Atlanta Fulton Public Library (Downtown, Buckhead, Sandy Springs), Spelman College, Georgia Perimeter College and the Mason Murer Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia; Bryn Mawr University, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania; Cleveland State University, Cleveland Ohio; Salem College; Winston-Salem, North Carolina; Converse College, Spartanburg, South Carolina and Rush Arts Gallery in New York City, New York. Based in Atlanta, Sistagraphy has maintained a continuous membership, ranging in ages from 19 – 50 plus, with members living in California, Ohio, New York, Delaware and Pennsylvania. The multifaceted artistic visions of the women who are a part of this photographic art collective included accomplished professionals as well as novice. In the tradition of the African village, Sistagraphy mentoring environment dictates that those more experienced reach out to newer inexperienced members. Sistagraphy members merge portraiture, documentary, digital and mixed media with playfulness and innovation contributing a unique voice to the broader dialog surrounding fine art photography. Sistagraphy, named by Atlanta photographer Susan J. Ross |
More than a century and a half ago, Jules Lion, a Parisian of part African0american descent, introduced the daguerreotype, an early form of photographic print, to the world. Within a few years, the first African-American photographers emerged. By 1920, the United States Census Bureau’s statistics identified 608 black photographers of whom 101 were women. Letter from the Executive Director: catherine J. Alston
Through a shared love of photography, we come together; and using our cameras, we interpret with unbridled passion, the human condition in all its strength and failties. Photographically, we capture the gamut of emotion-- from hope to helplessness, from beauty to powerlessness, from happiness to heartbreak; and finally, from life to its inevitability, death. We are Sistagraphy----Sisters in photography. We capture life as we see it; interpreting it through our cameras. As a diverse collective of African American women, we know that a photograph has a soul all its own, and we capture the immortal moment, and document events that awaken the consciousness that is woven into society’s fabric. We explore and embrace theme-based imagery. Our visual documentaries tell a story of life’s journeys, often capturing ordinary people in extraordinary places, situations or circumstances. For 10 years, in honor and celebration of International Women’s Month, Sistagraphy has partnered with the Atlanta based women’s photography group, Women In Focus. In 2009, Sistagraphy and Women In Focus collaborated with the non-profit girls organization, Girls, Inc. to produce “Dear World”. During January young girl photographers and seasoned photographers gathered in nature and urban spaces to photograph visual messages to the world. The photographs were on public exhibition March 2009 at the Atlanta Fulton Public Library, Central Branch. In 2008 Sistagraphy again looked through our cameras at the changing scenery of Atlanta and black neighborhoods across the United States of America. We appropriately named the exhibit, “Disappearing Black Neighborhoods”. The photographs, exhibited on the campus of at Georgia State University, chronicled the changing social and aesthetic landscape of Black communities. We have formed allegiances with other creative groups and, most recently; October 2009, Sistagraphy was proud to be the featured artist for the premier of Atlanta-based TheatreSouth, Inc. production of “The Colored Museum” at the Sanford Porter III Performing Arts and Community Center. Other photography exhibitions have included invitation to exhibit in “Reclamation of Memory” presented during the 2009 National Black Arts Festival and invitation to exhibit in the innovative eco-community Serenbe Arts Walk in October 2009. Our themed exhibition of photographs have been designed to “make you feel good”, such as “Good Vibrations” presented during the 2008 Atlanta Celebrates Photography as well as, “to make you think” representative in our exhibition ‘Food for the Soul”. Our visual perspectives have also been viewed in local and national art galleries, as well as public spaces, libraries and many college campuses. Our membership extend as far away as New York, to the west coast of California. As we lay bare our photographic souls, we invite you into our journey of self. Through the eyes of our lens— Yours in Artistry Catherine J. Alston
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In the twinkling of an eye – change happens.