About this project

In September I’ll be embarking on a one-month journey to Potreillos, a small farming community in the mountains of central Nicaragua. During my time there, I’ll be taking photographs and teaching photography to youth in the community. The goal is to create a collaborative documentary project that uses a single art form to bring together diverse points of view. In the summer of 2008 I lived in Potreillos and taught children’s rights through the arts and it quickly became a very special place to me. The relationships among the community members, family members, and generations have inspired me to re-approach this place as a photographer. Photos from my first trip can be seen here.

The workshop-style classes will focus on self-representation and using photographs to document personal history. In Potreillos, the extent of most residents’ exposure to photography is limited to the tradition of family portraiture. The students and I will talk about photographs taken by their peers in the Bronx, NY (my former students), well-known photographs taken in Nicaragua, and the way photographs are used in their community to document milestones in family history. We will take photos as a group and individually, meeting frequently to discuss our experiences and thoughts. Due to the lack of a pervasive image culture, the students will be able to create their own language of photography with little outside influence.

I’ll be staying with one family and spending my time with many more, using my previous connections to create an intimate portrait of the tight-knit community. By combining portraiture, landscape, and photographs of the many walls of family photos, I hope to explore the relationships between people formed over time in this relatively isolated place. Collectively, the students and I will create a nuanced portrait of Potreillos that reflects our exchange of ideas on their community and photography.

While in Nicaragua, my lodging and food will be provided by the community. I’ll be using the funds raised on Kickstarter to supplement personal savings. I’m in need of extra money for materials (film, disposable cameras for the students, processing, teaching materials) and travel expenses. At each donation level you can choose to receive photos taken by me or the students, or you can mix and match. More of my photography can be seen on my website, www.jackiemunro.com.

Thanks for taking the time to look at my project and for any donation you’re able to give. I’m excited to go to Nicaragua and bring back beautiful pictures for each and every one of you.