We Are Ithaca

"WE ARE ITHACA….a celebration in portraits

Ithaca will host a multi-faceted portrait project in 2017/18 that uses the power of photography to engage diverse communities within our city in dialogue and celebration of our complex identity.
At the heart of We Are Ithaca is the portrait project carried out by Project Director Robyn Wishna, a small group of Ithaca College Park School of Communication students and a few other key personnel. The project is possible by a generous grant from the Park Foundation in collaboration with the Community Arts Partnership. 

Through a series of at least 15-18 portrait sessions throughout Ithaca, they will make images of hundreds of Ithacans. Effort will be made to have sessions in all quadrants of the city in an attempt to be as inclusive as possible. People will be invited to include something meaningful in their portrait and/or be dressed in clothing that speaks to a part of their identity, life, history. At the same time, those who are willing,  will have 15 seconds to share something about themselves on video.

The collective results will provide and informative and inspirational visual foundation to a vibrant community celebration and a valuable historic snapshot of Ithaca to be shared with future generations. 
The basic timeline is:
June-August—Planning meetings held with community leaders/partners, dates/locations identified and permissions granted for portrait sessions, volunteer and sponsorship coordinators chosen, website up and populated, social media/marketing started and date/location for event in spring/summer chosen. Sept.-Nov. portrait sessions held. Winter/early spring post-production of photographs and videos are completed. 

Our collective desire to be seen and heard is powerful. We Are Ithaca celebrates the individuals who compose our rich community from prominent community leaders to less visible residents. It will culminate with a public event that seeks to maximize the visibility of the project and its participants while creating an opportunity for people to connect, share and celebrate. 
Some of the preliminary ideas for the celebratory event are:
Ten vinyl banners with 15 -18" x 24" portraits (double-sided) could be hung across the Commons or they can each be hung in 10 locations around the city, hung across another location, or possibly hung at Commons for event and then brought to TCPL or other locations to be displayed longer.
Large looped projection of portraits at a central visible site on or near the Commons for at least 3 months.
Music and food to accompany event.

There will be a website devoted to the project where all the portraits will be displayed along with the video, model release form and all project information. A separate website will have the portraits available for free downloads as well as offering prints of all sizes for sale.  An accompanying on-demand book will be produced and a copy given to the History Center for their archives. 

WE ARE ITHACA- a celebration in portraits
754-422-4233"