#SURVIVOR
PHOTO SERIES & INTERVIEWS

Joanna C. Valente is a poet, artist, editor, photographer & magic practitioner. They are the author of numerous books of poetry & creative instruction, as well as the hybrid photo-document #SURVIVOR (The Operating System 2021). They are the Founder & EIC of Yes, Poetry as well as Senior Managing Editor at Luna Luna Mag.

Project statement from Joanna’s website:

#SURVIVOR, a photo series, explores what it means to be a survivor, particularly survivors of sexual and domestic trauma, gender trauma, but really inequalities in any form. I am also exploring what it means for a place and landscape to inhabit trauma just as bodies do, and what trauma does to the earth.

As an extension of the book’s project, Joanna has dedicated a digital space for other survivors of various harm to tell their stories. In late Summer / early Fall of 2019, Joanna & I took a stroll through the vastness of Prospect Park in Brooklyn, where we collaborated on photos for the series. Joanna was behind the camera most of the time, but there were also the occasional self-timer shots of us both & at least one photo I took of Joanna myself. You can follow the project at their website & keep a look out for the publication date of the book via The Operating System. In the meantime, you can follow the link below to read my interview.