PROOF: Media for Social Justice Emerging Photojournalist Grant Winner Exhibition at VII Gallery
Photo: Allyse Pulliam
PROOF: Media for Social Justice is proud to announce that the winner of this year's Emerging Photojournalist's Award is Allyse Pulliam for her work documenting reproductive health issues in Burma. This year's two honorable mentions go to Matthieu Zellweger and Michelle Gerster.
"The compelling work of all three photographers will be the subject of an exhibition at the gallery of prestigious photography agency VII," announced Leora Kahn, PROOF’s Executive Director. "We are proud to be able to encourage the work of these new voices."
Ed Kashi, famous for his work for National Geographic, will host the exhibition's opening night, on July 25th.
All three photojournalists were selected by PROOF’s jury from dozens of submissions from six continents, each of whom was doing meaningful work documenting social justice, many in challenging circumstances. Pulliam receives a grant to further her projects, and all three photographers will be mentored by award-winning photographers.
Allyse Pulliam, from Monroe, New York, focused on the difficulties of Burma's health care system, which the World Health Organization ranked 190th out of 191 countries. “It is important to show the rest of the world what happens when these rights are not honored and care gets pushed underground,” said Pulliam in her submission.
Ms Kahn says she very much agrees. "Bringing the world’s crises to light through photography is a critical part of PROOF’s mission," she said. "Every dollar of support for these courageous and deserving artists makes an important difference in their ability to capture human dilemmas in compelling pictures.”
For more information, go to our Emerging Photojournalist's Award page here.
PROOF: Media for Social Justice uses visual storytelling for genocide prevention and peacebuilding. PROOF’s mission is to contribute to research and scholarship, develop educational materials for local and international use, and encourage activism and empowerment to promote social change. Founded in 2007 as a 501(c)3 organization, we develop exhibitions, publications, and on-site programs in nations with some of the world’s most troubled histories, documenting acts of remarkable moral courage as well as injustice and human rights abuses.
VII Photo Agency was created in 2001 by seven of the world’s leading photojournalists, and by 2005, VII was ranked third in American Photo’s “100 Most Important People in Photography.” VII Photo represents 23 of the world’s preeminent photojournalists whose careers span 35 years of world history.
For additional information:
Tatiana Leon
tleon@proof.org
www.proof.org
Exhibition
Opening Night
July 25th
6:30 - 8:30PM
VII Gallery
25 Jay Street (Dumbo area of Brooklyn)
July 25 - August 30
Gallery Hours: 10AM-6PM / Monday to Friday
VII Gallery can be reached by the F train to York Street, and walking 2 blocks west.