Jane Fisher - 'Necessary Distraction' group exhibition at Photospace Gallery, Wellington, 3 June to 2 July, 2022

Photo: Jane Fisher, from 'Brooklyn Within Brooklyn' series

Jane Fisher – Brooklyn Within Brooklyn
April 2022
 
"Cool and understated”.
 “A bustling small suburb”.
 “…diplomats and Government officials living next door to a house chopped up into five flats for students”.
 “…Older people going to the Penthouse [Cinema] to watch The King’s Speech”.
 
These are perceptions of life beneath the Wind Turbine that I have come across since I photographed the landscape around Brooklyn village in late 2020.
 
A year later, I began a sub-project photographing the initiatives of Two Todman Neighbours’ Place, which was established in 2021 on the former site of Brooklyn Galleria second-hand shop.
 
I have lived in Brooklyn and the wider area for a third of my adult life. In making these images, I wanted to convey the colourful quirkiness I have always seen behind the real estate façade - my “Brooklyn within Brooklyn”.
 
The close-up on Two Todman Neighbours' Place was inspired by their Brooklyn Acoustic gigs that feature local musicians. Two Todman is "a fresh expression of church in the suburbs" run by Brooklyn Anglicans.
 
As a christened, Sunday School-going child of parents who grew up attending Anglican churches, I sometimes refer to that as one of my "factory settings". Though faith in that sense is no longer part of my life, I remain interested in the social justice orientation of the Anglican church.
 
I began my project by photographing parts of Brooklyn village and surrounding areas that have distinctive colour and characteristics.
 
Later I connected with Alex, the coordinator of Two Todman Neighbours’ Place, about focusing my camera on their community. I spent a small amount of time in each sphere of life at Two Todman – creative events, the thrift shop, missional community, church services – and photographed what I experienced. I have exhibited what I think are the most successful of those images.
 
Sincere thanks to those in the Two Todman community who have supported my project – especially Alex, Scottie, Talya, Luke, Rebecca, Sam and Jess.  I have felt truly welcome and look forward to continuing our relationships.
 
Thanks also to Rameka and Anna, recent Brooklyn Acoustic performers who appear in two of the photos.  

Note: Jane's 'Brooklyn Within Brooklyn' series is displayed as a cluster of A4-size prints in the main gallery room. The Two Todman and Brooklyn urban landscape photo series are combined.

Photo: Jane Fisher, from 'Brooklyn Within Brooklyn' series