Street Roots is wrapping up a week in Glasgow, Scotland, with sister papers from around the world, talking about how to make a global movement even stronger.
A highlight of the 16thAnnual Conference of the International Network of Street Papers was the show by Photographers for Hope, a volunteer collective that includes legendary photographer David Burnett. The project had professional photographers working with street vendors to produce an exhibit that debuted at the BBC Scotland headquarters in Glasgow and will be in display all month at the city’s library. Within the span of one week, the vendors worked to shoot the photos, edit them with the team and set up a powerful exhibit.
Photos of the exhibit will be posted soon, but one Glaswegian street paper vendor, Joan, pictured above, lit up the audience with her work and her story. She is nearly entirely blind, but used the camera as an extension of her view of the world, and to give people a glimpse into her own. She never stopped smiling throughout, and said that selling the newspaper in the UK gave her her life back. She was blinded in a car accident, which left her unable to work or keep her apartment. She became homeless and began selling The Big Issue Scotland, the local street paper, which now supports her and her newfound love – photography!
Look for more photos as Internet problems are sorted out and the files are uploaded. Sorry for the delay but they are worth the wait!
Posted by Joanne Zuhl