THE CENTER AWARDS: PROJECT LAUNCH GRANT: AUSTIN BRYANT – LENSCRATCH

Where They Still Remain is a project that focuses on the African American and Wampanoag indigenous communities who have coexisted for hundreds of years on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. The work is a memorial to these people, past and present. In it, I attempt to make the unseen seen by shining a light on histories lost due to erasure. The work consists of my original photography (medium + large format film), vernacular/archival images from both communities, and historical texts that I’ve redacted. My connection to the work is direct—I am part of the historical tradition of African American families who have found a safe haven on the island since before Emancipation.