From the Shadows

From the Shadows highlights the hidden diversity of our region and honors the unsung heroes of a welcoming community. A series of 30 photographic portraits informed and shaped by the community, From the Shadows is a contemporary response to FLX Kodachrome: National Geographic Photography of Nathan Benn. Each uniformly sized work eliminates any sense of hierarchy and is grounded in the natural and built landscapes of the Finger Lakes region. 

The people depicted honor their ancestors and carry on those stories. They tackle the greatest public health crisis in a generation. They redefine our relationship to the land. They respect the deep cultural heritage of our region. They reclaim historical narratives. They exalt in the radiant beauty that flows from one of the Chemung River Valley to the other. They stand up for voting rights. They tell us that all our welcome here. They innovate, lead, and steward. They care. They host and give comfort. They march to proclaim that black lives matter. They love. They make. They do. They amplify and elevate. They protect. They serve when others won’t. They draw light from the darkness and I’m honored to tell their stories.

From the Shadows was on view June 11 - December 31, 2021 at The Rockwell Museum in Corning, NY.

Participants

- Talima Aaron, President, John W. Jones Museum Board of Trustees

- SatyaVani Pippalla Akula, Painter and Dancer 

- Anonymous, Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Farmworker

- Babatunde Ayanfodun, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assistant, Corning Community College

- Barb Blank & Barb Jackson, Goat Farmers and Grandparents, Valley View Farms

- Helen Kelly Brink, "The Cemetery Lady"

- Gerard Burke, Delta Blues Musician

- Joe Crance & Seth, Houndsman, Author, and Hound

- Kintu Early & Kirk Klingensmith, Fly Fishers

- Jaedyne Filkins, Student Activist, Corning Community College

- Meaghan Frank, Vice President and 4th Generation Winegrower, Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery

- Feng Gao, Process Modeling Engineer, Corning Incorporated

- Mary Kay Gronski, 1st Grade Teacher, Carder Elementary School

- Kim Harris & Lauren James, Resident and Direct Support Professional, Able 2

- David Hertel, Innkeeper and Owner, The Blackberry Inn Bed & Breakfast

- Laura Jones (deceased), Labor Union Activist, USW Local 1000

- Miss Vanessa LeDiva, Drag Queen Storyteller

- Dinorah Peters, Educator and Cultural Ambassador

- Jim Pfiffer, Co-Founder and Former Director, Friends of the Chemung River Watershed

- Troy Preston, Rector, Christ Episcopal Church

- Marc Rubin, Painter, Designer, and Doodler

- Eric Shatt, Cidermaker and Orchardist, Redbyrd Orchard Cider

- Darlene Smith, MS, CPH, Public Health Director, Steuben County 

- Helen Tegeler, Glass Artist and Educator

- Eli Thomas, Onondaga Nation Wisdom Keeper and Artist

- Thu Tran, Owner, Studio 2

- Clare van den Blink, Senior Vice President & Chief Information Officer & Jan van den Blink, President, Chairman of the Board, & Chief Executive Officer, Hilliard Corporation

- Georgia Verdier, Community Activist and President Elmira/Corning NAACP

- Wendell P. Weeks, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Corning Incorporated & Kim L. Frock, Executive Head of School, The Alternative School for Math & Science

- Ed Wightman, Boatbuilder and Educator

Portraits

Gerard Burke - Delta Blues MusicianGerard Burke - Delta Blues Musician Mary Kay Gronski - 1st Grade Teacher, Carder Elementary SchoolMary Kay Gronski - 1st Grade Teacher, Carder Elementary School Eli Thomas - Onondaga Nation Wisdom KeeperEli Thomas - Onondaga Nation Wisdom Keeper Darlene Smith - Steuben County Public Health DirectorDarlene Smith - Steuben County Public Health Director Marc Rubin - Painter, Designer, & DoodlerMarc Rubin - Painter, Designer, & Doodler Georgia Verdier - Community Activist & President Elmira/Corning NAACPGeorgia Verdier - Community Activist & President Elmira/Corning NAACP Helen Brink - The Cemetery LadyHelen Brink - The Cemetery Lady Miss Vanessa LeDiva - Drag Queen StorytellerMiss Vanessa LeDiva - Drag Queen Storyteller Kim Harris & Lauren James - Able2 Resident and Direct Support ProfessionalKim Harris & Lauren James - Able2 Resident and Direct Support Professional Kim Frock & Wendell Weeks - ASMS & Corning, IncKim Frock & Wendell Weeks - ASMS & Corning, Inc Talima Aaron - President, John W. Jones Museum Board of TrusteesTalima Aaron - President, John W. Jones Museum Board of Trustees David Hertel - Owner, Blackberry InnDavid Hertel - Owner, Blackberry Inn Vani Akula - Indian Dancer & PainterVani Akula - Indian Dancer & Painter Troy Preston - Rector, Christ Episcopal ChurchTroy Preston - Rector, Christ Episcopal Church Jim Pfiffer - Chemung River FriendsJim Pfiffer - Chemung River Friends Dinorah Peters - Educator & Cultural AmbassadorDinorah Peters - Educator & Cultural Ambassador Kintu Early & Kirk Klingensmith - Fly FishersKintu Early & Kirk Klingensmith - Fly Fishers Helen Tegeler - Glass ArtistHelen Tegeler - Glass Artist Eric Shatt - Cidermaker & OrchardistEric Shatt - Cidermaker & Orchardist Anonymous - Migrant Grape HarvesterAnonymous - Migrant Grape Harvester Ed Wightman - Boatbuilder & EducatorEd Wightman - Boatbuilder & Educator Joe Crance & Seth - Houndsman, Author, & HoundJoe Crance & Seth - Houndsman, Author, & Hound Meagan Frank - Vice President & 4th Generation Winegrower, Dr. Frank WineryMeagan Frank - Vice President & 4th Generation Winegrower, Dr. Frank Winery Babatunde Ayanfodun - CCC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion AssistantBabatunde Ayanfodun - CCC Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Assistant Feng Gao - Process Modeling Engineer, Corning IncFeng Gao - Process Modeling Engineer, Corning Inc Barb Blank & Barb Jackson -  Goat Farmers, Valley View FarmsBarb Blank & Barb Jackson - Goat Farmers, Valley View Farms Thu Tran - Owner, Studio 2Thu Tran - Owner, Studio 2 Clare & Jan van den Blink - Hilliard IncClare & Jan van den Blink - Hilliard Inc Laura Jones (deceased), Labor Union Activist, USW Local 1000Laura Jones (deceased), Labor Union Activist, USW Local 1000 Jaedyne Filkins, Student Activist, Corning Community CollegeJaedyne Filkins, Student Activist, Corning Community College