VIEW THE COLLECTION OF PORTRAITS
VIEW SLIDESHOW VIDEO OF IMAGES
Reframing Islam: A Photographic Resolution was initiated in early 2017 in response to political unrest regarding fear/acceptance of Muslim Americans. The method is simple: capture portraits of our Muslim neighbors and pair them with personal statements to ‘reframe’ the argument in context of humanity and self-representation. The intention is to replicate dialogue between humans, face-to-face. By allowing audiences to fully engage with intimate portraits of Muslim Americans and their heartfelt words, viewers are encouraged to suspend judgment and ‘listen’ without reservation. This resolution is about human rights as much as American rights; it’s about nurturing compassion and decency between Muslim and non-Muslim to remember the virtues of welcoming and celebrating our diversity.
Our greatest hope is that audiences challenge their understandings of Islam, ask questions, reject xenophobia, and develop acceptance. Now, we are feverishly working on exhibiting the body of work across the state of Massachusetts to restore peace, love, and understanding between Muslim and non-Muslim communities across the state.
This is only the beginning of our fervent efforts to collaborate with both public and private organizations and with the Muslim community across the state of Massachusetts to bring Muslim self-representation, public education, enlightenment, compassion, and appreciation of American diversity into the world we live in.
A few highlights from our outreach thus far:
- November 18, 2017: A collaboration with State Rep Evandro Carvalho (Dorchester) and his Administrative Team to create and promote an “Reframing Islam: An Open Community Conversation” event at the Grove Hall Branch of the Boston Public Library where member of the Muslim communities of Roxbury and Dorchester will speak about their experiences/ advice/ and hold a Q&A conversation. Guests will be welcomed into the Boston Public Library event space where the Reframing Islam photographs will be displayed around the room, and encouraged to ask any/all questions to the speakers/ me.
- Boston Neighborhood Network News | State Rep Evandro Carvalho & Imam Taalib Mahdee discuss Reframing Islam
- University of Massachusetts Amherst | Inside UMass Newsletter | Hathaway’s Photos featured in Boston exhibit
- Boston Public Library | Evandro Carvalho & Reframing Islam in Dorchester
- Event Flyer made by Evandro’s PR Team
- Event Invite on Facebook
- October 18, 2017: We collaborated with Mouhammad Quershi, MD/ President of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community of Western Massachusetts & Connecticut for an event at the Forbes Library in Northampton titled “True Islam vs Extreme Islam” on 10/18. An informal reception was held where the public could come and view the Reframing Islam photographs and then were treated to Muhammad’s sobering and informative presentation about the fundamental truths of Islam; followed by a lively Q&A session with 20-25 students and residents of the Valley complete with local cider and cookies.
- August 30, 2017: Tahira Amatul Wadud, ESQ. and our team were welcomed on the Monte in the Morning Radio Show (WRSI: 93.9 The River) to discuss not only the photography installation, but also Tahira’s experience and insight on the issue of Muslim American representation in the media.
- August 25, 2017: “Arts in the Pioneer Valley” Spotlight Feature in the Daily Hampshire Gazette.
- August 17, 2017: An intimate photography exhibit at the Uxbridge Public Library; with special guest speaker Mona Ives, a speaker who educates on Islam.
- July 18, 2017: SixThings.com “Empowered Women Empower Women” Blog Spotlight Interview with Brittany Hathaway ; Brittany started a project photographing her Muslim neighbors throughout Massachusetts as a response to fear she observed around her own family’s dinner table.
- June 6, 2017: We had the honor and privilege to bring this collection of photographs to an Open Discussion & Photo Exhibition with lawmakers at the Massachusetts State House, sponsored by State Rep Hannah Kane (Worcester District).
- May 20, 2017: The Shrewsbury Diversity Coalition and our team worked closely to curate an event of learning about Muslim culture and faith.
- May 20, 2017: Al Hamra Academy Spring Bazaar, informational table and portrait booth.
- May 7, 2017: Reframing Islam: A Photographic Resolution exhibited at the Worcester Islamic Center’s “Meet Your Muslim Neighbor”! We met some wonderful Muslim and non-Muslim people, and exhibited the first printed photographs of the series!
- April 29, 2017: Al Hamra Academy invited us to discuss Reframing Islam, and make some breathtaking portraits of families in the Al Hamra Academy community; Special guest, State Representative Hannah Kane of Worcester, spoke about the importance of advocating for Muslim American rights and against the proposed “travel ban”.
- February 27, 2017: “Reframing Islam: A Photographic Resolution” presented and discussed at 2017’s photography professional’s retreat, Inspire, in Newport RI!
- February 26, 2017: Islamic Society of Western Massachusetts rallies with neighbors to advocate against the Muslim Travel Ban. “Demonstrators told 22News they have been working closely with the Islamic society to help promote better understanding of Muslims here in the Pioneer Valley.”
- Brittany Hathaway is front and center, practicing what we preach, holding the sign “Let’s Wage Peace, Love, AND Understanding!!”
