November 8 — Helping Hands Festival
International performances, fair-trade hand crafts, food, a photography exhibit, and fun.
When: Saturday, November 08, 2008 10:30 AM - 4:00 PM
Where: St. Richard’s School 33 E. 33rd St., Indianapolis, IN 46205
International performances, fair-trade hand crafts, food, a photography exhibit, and fun. Before the festival opens at 10:30 a.m., join photographer Ida Benedetto at 9:30 a.m. when she shares how the imaginative use of words and pictures transformed two communities. After living with and photographing a coffee-growing cooperative in Guatemala and a tea-growing cooperative in India, Ms. Benedetto inspired both communities to learn from one another by using her photos in a postcard exchange. Her exhibit includes images and handwritten postcards that illustrate daily life, common struggles, and the shared hope that fair trade be brought to both communities. During the festival that follows, browse international handcrafted jewelry, woodcarvings, pottery, musical instruments, and more, and listen to performances by local community and student groups. All proceeds benefit international artisans and their communities. Free. Presented by Global Gifts, St. Richard’s School, and The Indianapolis Area Private School Diversity Consortium. Questions? Call 317-917-1836 or e-mail globalgiftsindy@hotmail.com.
Ida Benedetto is a documentary photographer specializing in collaborative and innovative uses of photography in the non-profit and human rights sectors. Her projects have focused on post-conflict issues, alternative agriculture, gender and sexuality, and urban youth culture. She interned at Magnum Photos, The International Center of Photography, and The Open Society Institute, and attended The Eddie Adams Workshop Barnstorm XIX in 2006. She is currently studying Design & Technology at Parsons School of Design and History at The New School.
Ms. Benedetto’s interest in Latin American politics led her to Guatemala, where she has been documenting the life of ex-guerrilla coffee farmers over the course of four trips since 2004. The work has been exhibited in New York City, Guatemala, and India. She expanded the project to tea garden workers in India thanks to a grant from The New School’s India China Institute. She now uses the photographs in postcard format as a way for these two communities to communicate directly with each other.
Back at home in New York City, Ms. Benedetto works with various groups servicing Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender homeless youth in the effort to create positive, empowered models of engagement with visual media around issues impacting these young people.
And for your listening pleasure …
Provocate assumes Patricia Kaas is singing about fair trade coffee grown by former guerrillas in Guatemala.
