Courtesy of the Center for Creative Photography

A Carolina patriot waves a flag in a photo by Debbie Fleming Caffery. The photo is from the exhibition "Indivisible," which is running from now until the end of September at the Center for Creative Photography.

Thursday September 6, 2001

CCP's curator explains exhibit's logistics

Anyone visiting the Center for Creative Photography from now until the end of September can witness documented American history at no charge.

"Indivisible" is the gallery's exhibition that depicts, through photographs and audio interviews, 12 communities filled with common Americans uniting for a positive change.

Tonight in the CCP at 5:30, Trudy Wilner Stack, the CCP's curator who developed "Indivisible," will discuss how the photographs were put together to create the exhibit, why the particular themes and projects were chosen and how each photographer and interviewer reacted to his particular location.

Upon entering the exhibit, each visitor receives an audio guide - a remote-control-like device with a speaker attached to it. Each section of the exhibit is numbered, and after entering the corresponding number into the guide, the guide plays recorded interview sessions of various members of the communities who live in the given area and their responses to the occurrences at hand.

"The Village of Arts and Humanities" in Philadelphia is a piece photographed by Reagan Louie. This section of the exhibit consists of photographs of a once desolate area of Philadelphia that is now being rejuvenated by a thriving arts community.

When the piece's number is entered into the audio guide, the recorded voices of people in this community begin telling tales of how their neighborhood was once covered in trash but now is adorned with murals, gardens, sculptures, multicultural architecture and even a tree farm.

"Indivisible" is rich with such stories.

CCP gallery monitor Guillian Ochoa, who answers questions and keeps an eye on the exhibit, described the way the public is receiving this exhibition.

"People are very interested by the 12 communities," she said.

She also said the audio guides give a good view of what the exhibition is all about.

The CCP has set up computers just outside the entrance to the exhibit where visitors can comment regarding the Tucson exhibition. These comments will then travel to Indianapolis where "Indivisible" is heading next.

Jeanne Courtemanche, director of communications for the CCP, said what she wants people to get out of the talks and exhibition is the story of community life and action in America.

"I want the exhibit to show how people are identifying problems in their community and then making changes toward a positive goal."

Courtemanche also stressed that on Sept. 21-22, the CCP will hold events all weekend with the nationally renowned photographers who took the pictures that make up "Indivisible." The photographers will speak of their experiences within the project as well answer the public's questions.

In addition to the "Indivisible" exhibit at the CCP, there is also an "Indivisible" postcard exhibit at Tucson International Airport until the end of the month.