2022 programming & Events

In 2022, Gravy Studio focused its programming as part of 20/20 photo festival. Gravy serves as a main organizer of the festival. learn more about our participation below:

Work by Adrian René
Also featuring Kevin Bass, Mario Cabral and Photography Without Borders students

Gravy Studio is proud to present In These Strange & Uncertain Times… Continued at our main gallery in Fishtown at 2424 East York St. This show is a continuation of an exhibit curated by Jelsomine Media at Cherry Street Pier. This collection of photos highlights work by Adrian René, a Haitian American documentary and street photographer, along with behind the scenes photos from our events over the summer of 2022 taken by Kevin Bass, Mario Cabral, and Photography Without Borders students.

Adrian René’s goal as a photographer is to blur the lines of de facto segregation through his images. No matter where one is from, his audience can see themselves in his work. In essence, his images evoke a self realization that all humans are chasing the same feelings of love, mercy, and compassion. To do this, his work gravitates towards the youth of Philadelphia, through their eyes he tells the story of the past, current, and future state of the world we live in. The portraits in this exhibit were taken at one of the free community photo days held at Northern Liberties Recreation Center, where René captured the last few moments of summer.

Additionally, we will have work by Kevin Bass, Mario Cabral, and Photography Without Borders students. During the summer of 2022, Gravy member, Jelsomine Media, held two free community photo days, where community members participated in personalized photo shoots and received prints of their images, free of charge. To celebrate these events and our vibrant community as a whole, Gravy Studio is displaying these behind the scenes photos.

All proceeds from these exhibitions will benefit Homies Helping Homies, a mutual aid effort in Southwest Philadelphia. Artist Kevin Bass, featured in the exhibition, also serves as the co-founder of this organization. Between all of the programming in Summer 2022, Jelsomine Media raised a total of $1,300 for the organization.

With financial, physical, and mental struggles becoming increasingly difficult in these times for many, especially marginalized groups who continue to be disproportionately affected by the pandemic and climate of the world, it is clear that mutual aid and coming together to support one another is more crucial than ever.

In These Strange & Uncertain Times, curated by Gravy Studio member, Jelsomine Media, features work by Adrian René, Kevin Bass, and Mario Cabral. The work of these three Philadelphia BIPOC photographers captures portraits and street photography of the vibrant communities that make our city special.

I hope you see your neighbor in these images, the grocery store clerk, and the person who gets your coffee. I hope you see yourself.

Additionally, during affiliated exhibition programming, Jelsomine Media held two Free Community Photo Days where community members were invited to participate in photoshoots of their choice, leave with prints of their photos, and have digital copies emailed to them — free of charge. During these events, the artists from In These Strange & Uncertain Times took behind the scenes photographs. Also joining us to take photographs of the community was Photography Without Borders, a children-based photo organization which connects kids to photography in order for them to share their powerful stories.

These community portraits and behind the scenes will be featured in a continuation of this exhibition at Gravy Studio from September 1 - October 31. Jelsomine designed a zine encompassing these exhibitions as well as the community photo days. This zine can be found for sale on our store. All of the proceeds from these exhibitions supports Homies Helping Homies, a mutual aid effort in Southwest Philadelphia. Artist Bass, included in the exhibition, serves as the organization’s co-founder.

There are bins out for the durations of these shows to collect various care items for Homie’s mission - check out homieshelpinghomies.com to see our communities can use most. Both events are wheelchair accessible. Special thanks to Penn Treaty Special Services District and Unique Photo for their support.

Events:

Opening Reception: September 2, 6PM-8PM
Panel discussion: Mutual Aid & Photography: An Online Discussion, September 19, 7PM

Gravy Studio Opening Reception: In These Strange & Uncertain Times, Continued, September 22, 7PM-9PM
Closing Reception, Cherry Street Pier: September 24, 6PM-8PM

panel discussion: Mutual Aid and Photography

On September `19, in the theme of community and photography, Gravy Member Jelsomine Media led a conversation about representation, upholding dignity, & uplifting each other through the power of photography. Included in the dialogue was Kevin Bass (photographer & co-founder of Homies Helping Homies,) Tony Rocco (Executive Director & founder of Photography Without Borders,) Danielle Morris of the teen after school program TILTInstitute, and Leroy Karim, a Muslim American photographer documenting the experience of Philadelphia residents.

View a recording of the discussion Here:

https://youtu.be/auCNB3NhOy0

Free Community Photo days

IN SUMMER 2022, JELSOMINE MEDIA HELD FREE COMMUNITY PHOTO DAYS, WHERE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY WERE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN PHOTO SHOOTS OF THEIR CHOICE AND RECEIVE PRINTS OF THEIR IMAGES — FREE OF CHARGE.

Other members from Gravy Studio assisted Jelsomine Media in photographing nearly 60 groups of families. Shoots varied from graduation portraits to family photos, and job headshots, to anniversary pictures. There was even a new entrepreneur who brought in some of their products for starter shots for their website.

During these events, the artists from In These Strange & Uncertain Times captured behind the scenes photos. Photography Without Borders, an initiative dedicated to aiding children in telling their personal stories through photography, also helped to capture BTS.

These behind the scenes images, along with the portraits taken of community members, were exhibited as a continuation of the show at Cherry Street Pier. In September 2022, Gravy Studio presented In These Strange & Uncertain Times, Continued at their gallery space in Northern Liberties. All proceeds from both exhibitions went on to benefit Homies Helping Homies.

fundraiser photo booth

sunday, august 7 12pm - 5pm

2nd street festival at the piazza. 909 N 2nd st. philadelphia, pA 19123

Bring yourself, a friend, or even your pup to our photo booth at 2nd Street Festival on Sunday August 7! Find us at the Piazza with backdrops & props to capture the day in your own unique way. For a small donation, you will leave with a print of your photo and can even have a digital copy sent to you!

All proceeds from the day will go to Homies Helping Homies, a mutual aid effort in Southwest Philadelphia. Help us support this amazing cause! This event is wheelchair accessible.

This fundraiser is hosted by Jelsomine Media and Gravy Studio.

rSVP HERE!