By Victorria Barreras
Staff Writer
On Thursday, Sept. 26, Boston University’s College of General Studies building was absolutely full to the brim with people. Lines went up staircases and out of doors, full of people anxious to get a good seat in the auditorium.
I was plastered against a wall, along with a handful of fellow photography students and professors. We were lost in the crowd of people buzzing with excitement. It was hot and cramped and uncomfortable, but no one was leaving. The spectacle waiting behind the doors was much too anticipated.
We were all there, on top of each other it seemed, waiting to hear and see Mary Ellen Mark. Mark is a black and white film, documentary photographer who has achieved global recognition for her groundbreaking work and dedication to excellence. Simply put, she is an amazing artist.
Marks’s track record is stupendous. Name a prominent magazine and she has had a photograph in it. Name an accomplishment awarded to a journalistic photographer and she has won it. She is a legend to say the least.
Not only has she produced some of the most poignant work in history but she is also completely adorable. Her charisma is undeniable and she was an absolute joy to listen to that night.
After being introduced and taking to the podium most humbly, she began with a slideshow. What she had prepared was a small sample of her work, pieces from some of her favorite projects.
For each picture she said a few words, mostly giving context. What was most touching had to have been the personal stories, the behind the scenes information no one but Mark knew.
She showed so many pictures from her time with the Indian Circus and the trainers and their animals. She seemed to lose herself in reminiscing over one in particular. It was a picture of a man and his chimpanzee.
Mark explained that the chimpanzee was so incredibly possessive of her trainer that she hated anyone else touching him. When Mark shook the trainer’s hand, the chimpanzee bit her. What’s worse is the trainer would have been so offended if she’d gone through with it that Mark refrained from getting a rabies shot.
Much of the same thing happened when Mark went back to apologize to the chimpanzee. Let’s just say the chimpanzee still held a grudge. Mark almost lost her arm in attempt to shake hands.
This series of pictures was clearly on Mark’s list of favorites. She stated that “there’s nothing like the Indian circus” and “it’s a magical culture to begin with.” She said she fell in love with India during her travels and it’s still a favorite.
“It makes me sad to look at these photographs because magazines don’t want pictures like these anymore,” was Mark’s closing remark to her slideshow.
After talking about her work the floor was opened up for a question and answer session. That had to be the most endearing part of the entire evening. I fell a little in love with that woman for pouring her heart out to us. I even shed a little tear.
She imparted wisdom I will never forget. As a person with a passion for film photography her words struck a personal chord. But just as a human being, her speech affected me. She shared some of her own inspirations like Irving Penn and Martha Brooke White. There were too many to name.
Mark cautioned us that “photographs can lie” and we, as photographers, need to be aware of our responsibility. We’re responsible for photographing the truth, even if it’s a hard one to swallow. Mark’s work in the brothels of India and her portrait of a young girl in bed being abused by her stepfather came to mind.
She got that far-off look in her eye when asked about what has changed since she began her career. “Everything” was the only answer she could give. “Magazines want illustrations” photo shopped beyond recognition. These days they don’t cover the kind of material they used to. Documentary work is out of fashion in mainstream media.
She admitted to being “glad not to be just another celebrity photographer.” After familiarizing myself with her work, I’m glad too.
When asked if her work affected her she eloquently replied, “Does it affect me? Of course. It has to.” There wasn’t a dry eye in the room.
Mark’s work speaks for itself but nothing can be compared to sitting there in that room with her. It was an irreplaceable experience, one I won’t soon forget. Can you imagine being able to sit and listen to Picasso explain his paintings? Or Shakespeare dissect one of his sonnets?
It is such a rarity to hear an artist’s voice as opposed to a synopsis from a scholar or an expert. Make sure you take the opportunity every chance you get to attend things like this. There are so many throughout Boston, and Simmons students can often get in free. We are part of a diverse collegiate culture in a vibrant location. Don’t decline taking advantage of events around Boston, especially rare ones such as this was.
