Calvin, Grand Gallery Team for Sudan Photo Exhibit

November 16, 2004 == MEDIA ADVISORY

A stunning display of photography is set to open December 1 at the Center Art
Gallery at Calvin College.

"Hands of a Displaced Sudan: A Cry for Compassion" is an exhibit of some 60
photos made by recent Calvin graduate Ryan Spencer Reed. The exhibit has been
generously underwritten by Grand Gallery.

Reed's haunting photographs depict the impact of nearly 22 years of brutal
civil war on the Sudanese population.

Reed began his quest to illustrate the pathos and passion of Sudan shortly
after his May 2002 graduation from Calvin. He decided he didn't want to
spend years waiting for his one big opportunity. So he jumped on a plane and
traveled to Sudan with his camera, some lenses and not much money.

Some might think him impetuous, impatient, even foolish. But Reed describes
himself as a true product of Calvin.

"Calvin shaped me," he says. "What I have tried to do is a microcosm of
Calvin's perspective about redeeming all areas of life."

Reed spent seven months in Africa, mostly in and around Sudan, taking pictures
- 90,000 of them to be exact - in an attempt to create images that would raise
people's social consciousness.

"I see myself," he says, "as a very privileged member of the Western world who
has a responsibility to do something about the injustices in the world."

So Reed created images of children playing with guns, of dirty hospital
conditions, of a smiling woman sitting in a marketplace with nothing to sell,
of a baby girl's funeral - life in a country torn by civil unrest for more than
two decades.

He sold some of his pictures to wire services and daily publications while in
Africa, but believes images like his belong in publications every day.

"They should be in the dailies, the weeklies, the monthlies," he says, "to
stop you, grip you and make you think."

While many of the photos reflect dire circumstances, Reed is quick to point
out that his work is not about hardening people.

"I think what should be made clear is more options," he says. "We need to
offer more hope. It's not about some dark mountain that can never be leveled.
We have more rights than anyone in this universe. We should use them."

But without the images it's easy to forget.

That's why Reed is so excited about the upcoming exhibit at Calvin.

"I would feel terrible if these were just stepping stones, something in my
portfolio, to get me a job," he says. "If I didn't do anything to help these
people, that would weigh heavily on my conscience."
 
As part of the upcoming exhibit, there will be a special talk on Friday,
December 3 at 7 pm by Reed on "Sudan and the Coverage of Critical Social Issues
in the New Age of Media." Also on hand for that December 3 talk will be
Sudanese "Lost Boys" from West Michigan who will answer questions and share
their stories.

The barrier-free Center Art Gallery, located on the lower level of the
Spoelhof College Center, is open 9 to 9 Monday through Thursday, 9 to 5 Fridays
and 12 to 4 Saturdays. There is no admission charge.

LINKS:

Calvin Center Art Gallery - http://www.calvin.edu/centerartgallery
Grand Gallery - http://www.grandgallery.com/
Ryan Spencer Reed - http://www.ryanspencerreed.com/main_flash.html
A personal narrative and more by Reed -
http://www.detroitfocus.org/Issues/0410/CryForCompassion/index.html
A sampling of photos -
http://www.detroitfocus.org/Issues/0410/CryForCompassion/Thumbnails.html

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Received on Tue Nov 16 14:40:54 2004