Concord church hosts asylum seeker pictures exhibit

A pictures exhibit illustrating the impacts of detention of an asylum seeker shall be on show on the South Congregational Church in Concord in November with a gap reception on Saturday, November 8, from 5-6:30 p.m.

In 2018, “Antony” (a pseudonym) escaped his war-torn African residence after receiving loss of life threats. To save his household, he fled alone to our southern border and requested asylum, a authorized request below U.S. immigration legislation. Nevertheless, he was arrested, shackled and jailed for 2 years in a number of immigration detention facilities. In 2020 with the COVID-19 outbreak, immigration authorities launched him below home arrest within the Seacoast space, but he was required to put on an ever-present ankle monitor for one more three years. Antony, a poet and artist, documented this time by means of his poetry and paintings.

In March 2021, New Hampshire photographer Becky Field met Antony, and collectively they began a challenge to doc his days below home arrest whereas tracked with the ankle monitor. Field and Antony labored collectively each week for a 12 months and a half. The ensuing exhibit reveals Antony’s journey within the asylum course of by means of Field’s images and his writings and paintings. The exhibit is uncommon in that every of the ten black and white pictures is printed on massive canvas, suspended in a freestanding black metallic body and accompanied by an excerpt of Antony’s poetry.

“This exhibit shows the physical and emotional pain of detaining and tracking a strong, well-educated man,” mentioned Field. “Antony is also a man of profound faith, which has helped to keep him going.”

Since 2012, Field has been documenting the pictures and lives of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in New Hampshire. In 2021, after photographing quite a few individuals all through the state, she determined to spend prolonged time with one particular person and was capable of join with Antony. She holds a certificates in pictures from the New Hampshire Institute of Art (now the Institute of Art and Design, New England College) and has additionally studied at pictures facilities all through the Northeast. She presently serves on the board of the NH Center for Photography.

The exhibit at South Congregational Church is on show from Nov. 8 by means of Nov. 29. An opening reception on the church is on Saturday, November 8 from 5-6:30 pm. The church is situated at 27 Pleasant Street in Concord. For exhibit hours, contact the church at 603-224-2521. This exhibit is made doable by means of beneficiant help from Temple Beth Jacob, South Congregational Church and NH State Council on the Arts.

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