In order to present these communities, the photographers needed to establish a high level of community interaction and trust.
In the work ofJenny Jozwiak, founder of the spiritual photodocumentary project “Diversity of Devotion,” the proof of trust is in a photograph featuring the open smile of a shymonk named Hyeju, who Jozwiak visited several times at Hanmaum Zen Center before she would allow herself to be photographed.
In the photographs of Stephanie Keith, that trust is apparent in glimpses of intimate moments such as a Korean baby’s first religious celebration, fervent worship at the Full Gospel Church and joyful camaraderie between female schoolmates at the Muslim Center Elementary School.
“There was a need for this work because people wanted to see religions displayed in a meaningful way,” Jozwiak said. “These are little enclaves of beauty, ceremony and spirit that are only a 20 minute drive from the city.”
The exhibit also provides interactive spiritual space for visitors in José Ruiz’s non-denominational chapel entitled “Feel Free to Believe,” a dark room with calming music, a large screen of green and red pulsating shapes and a small video featuring a flickering candle cupped by wavering but steady hands.
Remarkably, all of the projects are interactive in some form, from Tattfoo Tan’s project “Share-A- Prayer,” in which the museum’s vending machines dispense snacks and drinks inscribed with community religious members’ and museum visitors’ prayers and hopes, to Takashi Horisaki’s “Meet Me at the Unisphere,” in which children ran religious booths next to Flushing Meadows Park’s Unisphere. Another interactive piece, Emmy Catedral’s “Germinalia,” involved planting beech saplings at religious sites in Flushing.
Religious differences and interactions are broached in various formats. A photograph by Kim Badawi shows an interesting coexistence in the common space of the Muslim Student Association and the Hillel Jewish Center at Queens College.
In "War" by Sarah Rahbar, a sense of frustration at religious discrimination and nationalist oppression expresses itself in strands of bullets hanging from a fancy chandelier. In Scott Lewis’ “St. Michael’s Catholic Church Parade,” Asian bus riders glance curiously at a Catholic cross procession.
“You may have some sense of curiosity and willingness to know about other religions, but it's difficult to get into the substantive looking and learning, to get into the core without being opinionated,” Curator Hitomi Iwasaki said. “This is a good way to see religions for anyone.”
"This Case of Conscience: Spiritual Flushing and the Remonstrance," is on display at the Queens Museum of Art, located in Flushing Meadows Park, until June 29. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday, and noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Suggested admission is $5 for adults, $2.50 for seniors and children under 5. For more information, call (718) 592-9700 or visit www.queensmuseum.org.
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