Portraits of Resilience - Installations

installations

Whispering Veils

Photographed by LaNiah Ray

Artists’ Description: Inspiration for the fabric scrolls came from the realization that both risk and resilience can be almost invisible to us as we are living day to day.

Sometimes we are unable to see what’s right in front of us or even choose to look away. To incite change and uplift our community, we have to stop and look around, give ourselves a chance to see our community for what it is.

Whispering veils came from the realization that risk and resilience can be almost invisible to us in our day-to-day lives. It can be as though we are unable to see what’s right in front of us.

We have the decision to incite or ignore change, to comply or go against the norm.
Either way, the systems used against us are built to aid in our discretion. Will we decide to incite change or ignore it? Comply or go against the norm?

Either way, the systems used against us are used to get us out of the present. These places are abandoned, but they have a story. Think, who used to be here? Who were these establishments serving?

The Whispering Veils is a testament to those who were silenced, normal folks who don’t make the deciding factors on what happens in their communities.

The documentation of vacancy is important; the importance of the documentation of vacancy lies within the needs of these communities.

Designed by: LaNiah Ray
Medium: Photography and text printed on organza fabric.
Front to back: Andre Parnell, Corey Ewing, Cierra Johnson, LaNiah Ray

Connection Cluster

Photographed by LaNiah Ray

Artists’ Description: Inspired by a network map, the connection cluster installation uses a map of Indianapolis and our photos to show where we documented risk and resilience in our city.

Red thread represents risk.

Green threads represent resilience.

A closer look at risk and resilience reveals a nuanced and often complex relationship between these forces: imbalance balanced by neighborhood green spaces, trees, buses, and graffiti.

Medium: Archival prints, embroidery thread
Map generated by Courtney Page-Tan, Ph.D
Photography by Corey Ewing, Cierra Johnson, Andre Parnell, LaNiah Ray

Plywood Display

Photographed by LaNiah Ray

Artists’ Description: Inspired by the boarded-up vacant buildings documented by the artists, the 'Plywood Display' installation brings the outside in, creating a dimensional and tangible conversation to support its photos.

The installation uses plywood, a material often associated with abandonment and neglect, as a key structural element. This rawness contrasts with the imagery presented, creating a visual dialogue about the economic and social forces at play in Indy’s Eastside.

Contrasting imagery: photos of resilience (ex; local business store fronts), showing what could be occupied, while the plywood symbolizes abandonment.

Supporting imagery: photos of risk (ex; vacancy and abandonment), amplifying the reality of the risk.

Installation by: LaNiah Ray
Medium: OSB, archival prints, spray paint, mixed media, 48x96in
From left to right: LaNiah Ray, Corey Ewing, Andre Parnell

Photo Collage

Photography by LaNiah Ray

Artists’ Description: The photo collage juxtaposes images that highlight both the challenges faced by Eastside residents and their strength and ability to overcome those challenges.

Photos highlight themes, such as thriving local businesses and intentional design, as well as distrust of movement and abandonment.

Displayed on 2 x 6 beams, which represent a strong foundation of the community, the photo collages display the core of the community.

The 2 x 6 beams symbolize the enduring strength and resilience upon which the Eastside is built.

They provide a literal and metaphorical foundation for the images, suggesting that even in the face of adversity, the community remains grounded and unyielding.

Artists’ voices are woven throughout the photo collage, giving voice to photos, telling powerful stories of risk and resilience. The artists’ words are integrated directly into the collage, appearing alongside the photographs to provide context, commentary, and personal narratives.

By incorporating these voices, the photo collage transcends a purely visual experience, becoming a multimedia tapestry of perspectives and experiences.

The artists’ words add a layer of depth and richness to their place-based experiences, offering firsthand accounts of the challenges and triumphs depicted in the photographs. They transform the images from static representations into dynamic storytelling, allowing viewers to connect with the subjects on a more intimate level.

Photo Collages by: LaNiah Ray
Medium: Mixed media on pine.
Photography by Corey Ewing, Cierra Johnson, Andre Parnell, LaNiah Ray

Community Action Hub:
Share Your Story, Shape Our Future

Photographed by Cierra Johnson

Photographed by LaNiah Ray

This interactive installation, the Community Action Hub, invites attendees to contribute their unique perspectives and experiences to a growing portrait of community resilience and risk.

We encourage attendees to share their community’s sources of risk and resilience, and ideas to shape a more resilient future for our city.

Participants are invited to use sticky notes to identify:

Sources of Community Resilience: What strengths, assets, and resources does our community possess?

Sources of Community Risk: What challenges, vulnerabilities, or threats does our community face?

Ideas for Action: What steps can we take, individually or collectively, to enhance resilience and mitigate risk? This could involve policy recommendations, community projects, innovative solutions, or personal commitments.

Through shared stories and collaborative brainstorming, the Community Action Hub will serve as a dynamic platform for dialogue, empowerment, and collective action.

Contributions will be used to inform future initiatives and advocate for policies that foster a thriving and equitable community.

Interactive Display designed by LaNiah Ray.
Sources of Community Resilience, Sources of Community Risk, and Ideas for Action: Exhibition attendees

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