Speakeasy with photographer Kristen Ashburn
Monday, February 23rd, 2009
WAITING ROOM: "Stella"
Kristen Ashburn doesn’t flinch. Training her lens on some of the hardest to look at sights in Iraq, Gaza and New Orleans, she’s become versed in the art of not looking away. The photographer’s most recent excursion found her in sub-Saharan Africa documenting AIDS-ravaged communities and families. The result, Bloodline: AIDS and Family, runs through runs through March 6 at the Atlanta Photography Group Gallery and March 15 at Composition Gallery.
What first drew you to this topic?
Millions of people are sick and dying because they lack medicine that we as Americans take for granted. As a journalist, this pandemic is something that I could not ignore.
What countries did you visit?
I documented the AIDS crisis throughout Botswana, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Malawi.
Which was the hardest to document?
As I began making visits to communities, hospitals, and homes, I quickly realized that Zimbabwe was in bad shape. Not only was the country going through political and economic turmoil, but the basic social fiber of society was being torn apart by this disease. I spent most of my time in Zimbabwe, but it became too dangerous for me to work there without the official press credentials. Journalists are not allowed to work in the country without government-issued press credentials, which are rarely given out. If caught working without these papers I faced up to a two-year jail sentence.
