I asked Kiera Haddock to photograph the crowd on the night of the 30 Strangers exhibit. I love the things she sees and the way she tells the story. There’s always cleverness and surprise and never anything trite. You’ll see what I’m mean if you check out her blog: http://peaceandpandemonium.blogspot.com/

Here’s the magic she cooked up on the night of the show. Thanks Kiera.

Artist Statement – 30 Strangers exhibit

A famous war photographer once said, “If your pictures aren’t good enough, you’re not close enough.” He meant close, as in proximity. He meant move in close and leave anything out that isn’t necessary. And for a long time that’s the only way I read the quote, until a friend suggested it could also mean emotionally close.

So people come to be photographed. I want to like them and I want them to like me. I don’t know if I should admit that or not. They come to the studio, and I fish a little for some common ground. I ask where they grew up, what they studied in college, why they chose to study law instead of chemistry. I ask myself, How can I relate to these folks? And I try, like the quote suggests, to move closer.

On April 1st, 2009 and for the following 29 days, I photographed strangers. Mothers and daughters. Sometimes grandmothers, mothers, and daughters. We talked some, and then I took pictures.

This is where those conversations took us.

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Last Thursday we had our 30 Strangers exhibit and I had such a great time. I want to thank all of those of you that attended. On that night we extended our fund raiser for the Center for Women and Children in Crisis and we were able to raise another $1,000 for their organization.

The exhibit was the culmination of hundreds of hours of work that started in April and it felt good to see it on display. We’ll do this again. Oh yes, you can count on that. If you’d like to be informed about our 2010 30 Strangers project and other related matters, sign up for our occasional newsletter.

This Thursday is our 30 Strangers exhibit. Come see the results of our project from April 2009.

Here are the details:
July 2nd, 6-9pm
1 East Center Street #215
Provo, UT

Be a part of art and activism and join us for the exhibit in an effort to help local victims of domestic violence. Particpants of the project made a donation to the Center for Women and Children in Crisis instead of paying me a session fee. On the night of our exhibit, July 2nd, we’ll be extending our fund raising efforts. Anyone that would like to make a $25 donation to the center can for free, schedule their own mother/daughter portrait session for anytime between July – September. This is a great deal AND you are contributing to a wonderful cause.

You’re invited. Tell your friends, too. We’ll see you on Thursday!

Thanks to our 30 Strangers exhibit sponsors. We couldn’t be doing it without you. They are:

REMS

Lost Lake Studios

Pictureline

Epson

Alta Moda Bridal

The Mandate Press

Enizio Salon

Spoon Me

The Sweet Tooth Fairy

Kendra Last Book Binding

Here are the details:
July 2nd, 6-9pm
1 East Center Street #215
Provo, UT

Photography Show Benefits Women’s Shelter

Provo, Utah – June 23, 2009 – How did one photographer and 30 strangers team up to help local victims of domestic violence? Find out when art and activism come together at a downtown Provo gallery on Thursday, July 2. Featuring the work of Justin Hackworth, the “30 Strangers II: Portraits of Mothers & Daughters” exhibit will raise funds for the Center for Women & Children in Crisis.

For the second edition of Hackworth’s 30 Strangers Project, the fine art photographer shot portraits of 30 sets of mothers and daughters, some spanning four generations, over 30 days. In lieu of a sitting fee, each donated $25 to the Center. Hackworth is offering the same arrangement during the show opening, which starts at 6pm at the Knight-Block Building at the corner of University Avenue and Center Street.

Shelter manager Kim Kowallis hopes the show also boosts awareness of the Center’s mission. “I want people to realize how many women and kids we serve,” Kowallis says. The center can’t afford to advertise, and relies instead on word of mouth to reach both potential donors and women in need. “Our shelter is about women who are fleeing domestic violence, who have to just grab their kids and run.”

Kowallis says the exhibit theme suits the Center’s message of hope. “At the shelter, people are in crisis, and life is not good,” she says. “I want them to see mother-daughter relationships that are in a good place. I’m definitely taking some of them to the show, to see how things can be—that things can get better.”

One portrait subject was so excited about the project, she drove to Provo from her home in Denver, Colorado to participate. “Considering the level of Justin’s photography, I would have paid him so much more for these pictures,” says Utah native Rachel Miller. Miller posed with her daughter, mother, and grandmother, who plans to attend the exhibit. “What he did, having us donate instead to the Crisis Center, making this a project to help others, I think it’s amazing.”

Hackworth, whose work has shown at Salt Lake City’s Art Access and Finch Lane galleries, Park City’s Kimball Art Center, and the Springville Art Museum, started the 30 Strangers Project in 2008. “Over 30 days, I shot portraits of 30 people I didn’t know,” Hackworth says. “That experience was fascinating, so I wanted to do it again. But this year, I wanted to focus on a theme that could give something back to the community.”

The 30 Strangers II – Portraits of Mothers and Daughters book is now available on Blurb. I just got mine today and it looks fabulous. Get yours here.

30 Strangers II

Portraits of Mother…

By Justin Hackworth

Book Preview

Here’s a visual summary of our 30 Strangers project from 2009. What’s the 30 Strangers project? Here’s where you can read about this portrait project and fund raiser. And while the photographs have all been taken, we aren’t finished yet. We’re planning an exhibit for July 2nd (more details to follow soon) and I can’t wait. I just got off the phone with Kent Miles who has agreed to help me sequence the show. Kent has had more gallery exhibitions than any other photographer in Utah (solo or group shows) and having his input will make all the difference. It’s all in the details, don’t you know.

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Justin Hackworth photographs strangers, friends, acquaintances, and he wants to photograph you.

Want to stay informed about all Justin Hackworth Photography specials, news, or exhibits? Then sign up for our newsletter. We’ll email you periodically (don’t worry, we won’t go nuts).

For example, want to know when our 30 Strangers exhibit will be? Sign up for the newsletter. Want to know when our next 30 Strangers project will be so you can get in on that action? Sign up for the newsletter. Want to be updated on when we’ll be doing portrait sessions in your town? Or when we’ll have sweet newsletter-only special deals?

Here’s where you can sign up:
justinhackworth.com/signup.php

PS – The 30 Strangers exhibit will be on July 2nd, but more on that later. Oh wait. You were supposed to find out about that in the newsletter.

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30 portraits in 30 days, now finished. Thank you, all.

Courtney and Cindy. Beautiful.
And to the seven or eight people on the planet that haven’t already bookmarked her site, check out Courtney’s blog here.

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Want pictures like this for yourself and the people you love? We should talk. Justin Hackworth photographs happy people and beautiful events and wants to photograph you.

Rachel came from Colorado to be photographed with her mother, grandmother, and daughter. That’s cool, but here’s the even cooler part. It was a surprise to her mother–her arrival, the portrait session–the whole thing. I love that.

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Side-story:  Rachel had a little girl with her that, at one point, wasn’t all that happy. So she did what any two-year old would do to let us know she wanted a little attention. She cried some. I asked Rachel if it would be ok to give her a sucker. Sure. So I asked our adept intern if she’d go get it. A few minutes later the kids were chewing gum but no one was eating a sucker.

Me: Did you find that sucker?
Ashley: I couldn”t find it.
Me: Really? It should be right on my side of the desk.
Ashley: Umm…. I ate the sucker.

Well, it was a Blow-pop. Can you blame her?

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Justin Hackworth photographs lovely weddings and happy people. Why do you keep putting off your family pictures? Don’t wait much longer. Before you know it, those little kiddies of yours will be off to college in New York or Seattle and by that time, they’ll be too heavy to sit on your lap. Let’s talk. Now’s the time for family pictures.

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Justin Hackworth photographs happy people and beautiful events and wants to photograph you.

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Justin Hackworth photographs happy people and beautiful events and wants to photograph you.

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Want pictures like this for you and the people you love? We should talk.

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Want pictures like this for you and the people you love? We should talk. Getting married? I know just the guy to photograph your wedding.

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Justin Hackworth photographs beautiful events and happy people. Want pictures like this for yourself? We should talk.

Me: What is your teacher’s name?
Daughter: Miss Sage.
Me: That’s a pretty name. Is she nice or mean?
Daughter: Nice.
Me: Is she old or young?
Daughter: She’s partly old.
Me: Am I old or young?
Daughter: (giggle, giggle) You’re OLD.

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Justin Hackworth photographs beautiful events and happy people. Want pictures like this for yourself? We should talk.

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Want pictures like this for you and the people you love? We should talk. Getting married? I know just the guy to photograph your wedding.