Melissa Saenz Gordon is a documentary street photographer based in Bed-Stuy. She began studying photography at 15 after attending the California State Summer School of the Arts; later helping to establish the photography program at the School of the Arts High School in San Francisco, her hometown. With a background in geography and urban studies, her imagery is rooted in monumentalizing the invisible landscape and celebrating community through film..
“Bed-Stuy, the place where my head rests,” says Christopher Wallace in the song Machine Gun Funk . Celebrating the nuance of a neighborhood is a core value of my work. As eccentric city centers become re-urbanized, longtime locals are being pushed to the fringe, and often out of town. While people love to say “this place isn’t what it used to be” I find that perspective overlooks the significance of what and who still remain. Now, as Bed-Stuy resident, I want my imagery to celebrate the the undeniable influence of the community.
Portfolio from the Visual Storytelling workshop with Ed Kashi, December 2017.
Personal meeting with
ELISABETH BIONDI,
Visuals Editor and Independent Curator
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