Call for Volunteers: Photography Project with Gail Albert Halaban
From the organizer:
Gail Albert Halaban’s project, “Out My Window”, is both a penetrating exploration of modern community and a group of moving and beautiful photographs. The artist plans to travel to cities on every continent except Antarctica for the project, leaving cameras with people in each one. She writes: “This will be an innovative use of photographic technology that creates immediate connections between neighbors across the globe.” That connection, together with Halaban’s expertly composed, beautifully rendered, large-scale photographs on the walls of the gallery, promises museum visitors an unforgettable experience. Exhibition of project will opens Fall 2018 at the Eastman Museum (New York) and will travel to major cities of the world.
Please join artist Gail Albert Halaban who will be coming to Hanoi for her art project. She is looking for two or three photo assistants to help her photograph neighbors who see neighbors in Hanoi. You can view her work here: Gail Albert Halaban’s Website
She is looking for people who are:
1. Fluent in English.
2. Can drive a motorbike.
3. Have an interest in photography.
4. Are polite, organized and have free time in September.
The job will require the commitment of the month of September broken down this way:
1. During the first two weeks, the assistants will be scouting. This will require finding people who see into their neighbor’s window, sending her a snapshot from said window, and if Gail Albert Halaban thinks it will work, securing permission from the opposing neighbors. The times that the assistant scouts are totally flexible during this period. Our goal will be to secure 20 people in various parts of the city with a variety of architecture to photograph.
2. Gail Albert Halaban will then come to photograph during the second half of the month. The assistants will accompany her on the shoots during this time.
Compensation: Gail Albert Halaban is looking for volunteers for this project. During the work time, she will pay for expenses such as gas and meals.
How to Apply: Please write Gail Albert Halaban directly at [email protected], enclosing with your CV.
This photographer ought to be ashamed of herself. Asking for assistants and not paying them is exploitation, especially as they will do the scouting (or snooping) for her, take pictures of the occupants, getting their written permissions and accompany her to the various locations. 905 of the work will be done by these “volunteers” who will get paid for a bowl of pho and a liter of gas.
It is nothing but a repulsive exploitation of the generosity and kindness of the Vietnamese, who are always eager to help foreigners.
Its bad enough that some wonderful photographic works are blatantly used without renumeration by corporations and news agency’s. This photographer is another example of what is very wrong with westerners thinking they can use people in Asia for their own profits without proper pay for services.
I traveled to the region for over 30 years and also lived in the area for several months. I see nothing different between this photographers use of the local people in VietNam and the exploiting of workers for little or no financial gain in other countries.
I would hope this photographer will come to her senses and raise the bar for all of us.