As seen through their eyes

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This article was published 18/11/2014 (4205 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A new photovoice project tells the story of Point Douglas from the perspectives of the people who live there.

Through My Own Eyes: A Visual Narrative of Life in the North End is a community photography project currently on display at North End Business Development Centre (607 Selkirk Ave.).

Through My Own Eyes is presented by The Winnipeg Boldness Project, a new initiative aimed at improving outcomes for children and families in the Point Douglas area, as defined by the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority’s boundaries. The exhibition features photos taken by community members, combined with captions, to document the experience of living in the North End. The photos and statements are plotted on a map of Point Douglas.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity for people to be able to share their experiences in a new way, in a way that can connect with other people who are viewing the photos,” said Gladys Rowe, research manager for The Winnipeg Boldness Project.

“Photographs are such a powerful medium and seeing the world through the eyes of another creates a point of connection, so we wanted to create a space for people’s voices to be heard regarding raising children in the community, living in the community, those kinds of experiences.”

To create the exhibition, The Winnipeg Boldness Project distributed digital cameras to 12 community members and provided some basic training on photography and how to use the cameras. The participants then had a week to snap their experiences of living in Point Douglas, picking their favourite shots for display.

“Overwhelmingly the photographs people chose to share were about their positive experiences or about the strengths of the community, what was important to them and their family, the spaces where they feel safe,” Rowe said.  

Shannon Meaniss, 33, a Point Douglas mother of five, said her favourite photo was one she took of her year-old son Glenn sitting in a pile of leaves. She also took a photo of a man raking leaves, a snapshot she believes says a lot about her fellow Point Douglas community members.

“He’s a senior citizen and he’s raking leaves in an area that has nothing to do with his own residence. He’s just out there in the middle of the street raking up leaves,” Meaniss said. “I thought ‘Wow, I have to go talk to this guy’ and he said he’d just finished up raking leaves at the church that’s across the street. I thought that was really awesome.”

Rowe said Through My Own Eyes includes an opportunity for interaction, with viewers encouraged to add their responses to the photos and their own meaningful spots to the map.

Looking at the exhibition Meaniss said she’s especially proud of the positive nature of the piece.

“People focus on the wrong things and here we’re trying to build up the positive of our North End,” Meaniss said. “It isn’t a bad place to live; it’s a great place to live. The community members are nice, friendly and supportive.”

Through My Own Eyes will be on display at 607 Selkirk Ave. until the end of November. There are plans to tour it around the North End and the broader community.