A Sunday afternoon event brought photographers and spectators together to a socially-distanced outdoor photo exhibition called “Capture the Movement” in Bedstuy, Brooklyn, featuring the work of more than 40 photographers.
This Black-led event showcased the work of Black photographers who have covered the Black Lives Matter movement in New York City and across the United States.
“Mask Up and Bring the Family!!!” was the exhibit’s motto.
The Brooklyn United Marching Band performed at the end of the event with three teams of dancers and a full marching band, wearing pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Brooklyn United was introduced by Ty Brown, the Executive Director of the group. He commented on the amount of people under the tent holding cameras. “I don’t even have to motivate my kids for this show, because this is the most cameras they’ve ever seen in their lives.” One of the group’s own members was a featured photographer at the event.
“With a camera in your hand, you change what they think about our young people. So I encourage you — keep telling these stories,” said Brown.
Below are some of the photographs from this event, including the showcased photography and photos from Brooklyn United’s performance.
Kevin Leonard, an attendee of the exhibit and neighbor of the venue, spoke about an event earlier in the week where the streets were closed and people in the community were roller skating outside of his home. “It was kids, it was women, it was men, it was all colors. It was Brooklyn, real Brooklyn, you know, and I loved it. And this exhibit was another one,” he said.
A photograph by artist Celeste Lacy Davis hung with the other art included in the exhibit. Allison Brown, an attendee of the event, said she lives in Brooklyn and attended the Black Trans Lives Matter events there earlier in the summer. “I’m still processing the images,” she said about Capture the Movement. “Mostly just goosebumps, if I’m being honest.”
“We need to bring all of the problems to a table for all of us to fight for.” said youth activist and social justice leader Larry Malcom Smith Jr., 21, “This is everybody’s problem and we can’t let the desensitivity sink in.”
Smith Jr. connected with one of the exhibit’s photographers, Patrick J. Charilus, at a rally who was impressed with his work as an activist. Smith Jr. and Charilus are both based in Queens, NY, and have worked throughout the summer to shed light on the Queens Black Lives Matter events. Smith said he came to “Capture The Movement” for many of the photographers at the exhibit who “don’t get the credit they deserve,” including Charilus.
“This was totally unexpected, and loved it. The drummers, the kids drumming and dancing. They were all great, it’s really inspiring to see that, especially in these turbulent times, the last six months. I don’t have to tell you, you know what we’ve been dealing with,” said Leonard, referencing NYC’s Black Lives Matter protests and police brutality. “It’s just refreshing to have some sort of positive outcome out of everything.”
