Sarah Tew
Current Gallery: framed prints for sale ( piece)
Currently on view: "Fighting Prejudice With Votes: Sikhs in New York" ***This collection of images will be exhibited in March of 2007 at the Queens Museum of Art. Currently the show is being previewed at the Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center in Ridgwood Queens. Photographs from this project are for sale as part of an effort to raise money for the organizations that were so helpful in the recent election of my subjects: the first Sikhs to be elected to official postions through New York's political process. Part of all proceeds from these print sales will be directed to the Grassroots Initiative (www.gograssroots.org) and to The Sikh Coalition (www.sikhcoalition.org). About the subject of this photo-documentary: New York City is home to approximately 55,000 Sikhs. Worldwide, twenty-five million people identify themselves as adherents of the Sikh faith, making it the fifth largest religion in the world. Until this fall, there had never been a member of the Sikh community elected to political office. Grassroots Initiative, a local nonprofit organization that assists first-time candidates for elected office, teamed up with the nation's leading Sikh civil and human rights organization, the Sikh Coalition, to help break down these barriers to political participation among Sikhs in New York and define a new model for other immigrant groups to follow. Five individuals – a former taxi driver and newspaper stand owner, an information technology specialist, a general contractor, an insurance broker and a real estate agent – led the way for the Sikhs. The road to election was not easy. The candidates had to confront prejudice first-hand as they went door-to-door gathering signatures to get their name on the ballot. “In the beginning, I was concerned about knocking on people’s doors to ask for their vote,” said Mohinder Singh. “Some people saw me and told me to go away. But by the end, people were approaching me to talk about issues.” All five Sikhs also faced technical challenges to their candidacy from the New York City Board of Elections. With the help of Grassroots Initiative, the Sikhs were able to fight these challenges in the New York Supreme Court and all five candidates were returned to the ballot. In September 2006, the first five Sikh officials were elected in New York. Although the offices they hold are minor, the election marked a new wave of hope for Sikhs and other immigrant groups who, despite their numbers, have struggled to gain representation and entry in America’s entrenched political structures.
Currently on view: "Fighting Prejudice With Votes: Sikhs in New York" ***This collection of images will be exhibited in March of 2007 at the Queens Museum of Art. Currently the show is being previewed at the Gurdwara Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center in Ridgwood Queens. Photographs from this project are for sale as part of an effort to raise money for the organizations that were so helpful in the recent election of my subjects: the first Sikhs to be elected to official postions through New York's political process. Part of all proceeds from these print sales will be directed to the Grassroots Initiative (www.gograssroots.org) and to The Sikh Coalition (www.sikhcoalition.org). About the subject of this photo-documentary: New York City is home to approximately 55,000 Sikhs. Worldwide, twenty-five million people identify themselves as adherents of the Sikh faith, making it the fifth largest religion in the world. Until this fall, there had never been a member of the Sikh community elected to political office. Grassroots Initiative, a local nonprofit organization that assists first-time candidates for elected office, teamed up with the nation's leading Sikh civil and human rights organization, the Sikh Coalition, to help break down these barriers to political participation among Sikhs in New York and define a new model for other immigrant groups to follow. Five individuals – a former taxi driver and newspaper stand owner, an information technology specialist, a general contractor, an insurance broker and a real estate agent – led the way for the Sikhs. The road to election was not easy. The candidates had to confront prejudice first-hand as they went door-to-door gathering signatures to get their name on the ballot. “In the beginning, I was concerned about knocking on people’s doors to ask for their vote,” said Mohinder Singh. “Some people saw me and told me to go away. But by the end, people were approaching me to talk about issues.” All five Sikhs also faced technical challenges to their candidacy from the New York City Board of Elections. With the help of Grassroots Initiative, the Sikhs were able to fight these challenges in the New York Supreme Court and all five candidates were returned to the ballot. In September 2006, the first five Sikh officials were elected in New York. Although the offices they hold are minor, the election marked a new wave of hope for Sikhs and other immigrant groups who, despite their numbers, have struggled to gain representation and entry in America’s entrenched political structures.
Gallery-quality prints · Independent artists · Décor to adore
from $ 11
from $ 11
from $ 11
from $ 11