DONNA BASSIN MY OWN WITNESS: RUPTURE AND REPAIR

"We can't control what events happen to us, but we can control how we choose to meet them. More than twenty years ago, I was diagnosed with Scleroderma, a rare autoimmune disease, and given five years to live. Instead of letting the darkness of that diagnosis and its possible outcome rule me, I chose to focus on the present moment.

SYBIL

MY OWN WITNESS: RUPTURE AND REPAIR

Some times have been tough, and I did not think I would see tomorrow. But overall my years of dealing with illness, the most important thing I've learned is that you can't let a possible future steal your life, your present moment. Don't let the darkness paralyze you; put one foot in front of the other, and you will find the light. You can do it.

Donna Bassin © All rights reserved.

AYA

MY OWN WITNESS: RUPTURE AND REPAIR

I was born in Japan and now live in America. One of the things that attracted me to America was the diversity of people and cultures. I think it's a big part of what makes this country great. I hope for this diversity to continue to inspire us and those around the globe and show that we are stronger when we're united.

DONNA BASSIN MY OWN WITNESS: RUPTURE AND REPAIR

During the years following the 2016 presidential election, I initiated portrait collaborations between those who – through the race, sexuality, gender identity, age, ethnicity, and/or disability – felt they had been deemed invisible and unentitled to their place in this American moment. I asked my sitters to turn themselves inside out and to use pose, gesture, and gaze to express their emotional truths regarding the crisis of democracy: to visually assert their identity and invite a visceral face-to-face encounter with their humanity. During the pandemic, I had to close my portrait studio and

ESTELLE

MY OWN WITNESS: RUPTURE AND REPAIR