ReFOCUS

The MyNew Orleans Photo Project 

Curated by ReFOCUS
October 23–January 23, 2022

Location - pending

New Orleans Public Library (Downtown/Central Business District)
219 Loyola Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112
(504) 596-2570

Contact 

Instagram: @myneworleansphotoproject

Hours

Monday–Thursday, 10 AM–6 PM
Friday–Saturday, 10 AM–5 PM
Sunday, closed

Accessibility

The New Orleans Public Library is wheelchair accessible and features ADA compliant restrooms.

COVID-19 restrictions

Masks are required to be worn indoors at the venue.

About the Exhibition

The MyNew Orleans Photo Project highlights four years of photography and stories submitted by people affected by homelessness in New Orleans as part of an annual photography contest, exhibition, and calendar. Each year’s contest includes a public art exhibition designed to share the images and stories with the public—to share the everyday realities of people affected by homelessness, as well as their individual histories, struggles, and aspirations. The project uses the power of the artistic assignment to encourage reflection by both the artist and the viewer. Participants are compensated for their work through funding from use of their images and calendar sales. 

About the Organizers

The MyNew Orleans Photo Project is coordinated by ReFOCUS, a PhotoVoice nonprofit cofounded with Heather Milton that provides coordination and guidance for using photography to connect diverse artists and audiences in reaching shared understanding around issues that marginalize and divide communities. While the photographs are the works of the participants, Milton coordinates all aspects of the project, including volunteer management, partnerships with community service providers and others, camera distribution and collection, fundraising, media/public relations, exhibition curation, and event coordination.

Dwayne Norris, “Gospel Singers.” “The photo represents the culture of this city and its diversity. This small church is less than 2 miles from downtown New Orleans, off Martin Luther King Blvd on Felicity St, an impoverished part of the city riddled with drugs and crime. Yet this pastor faithfully preaches out front of his church every Sunday morning about Love and Change.” Photo & narrative by Dwayne Norris