In June 2001, local photographer Joe Territo traveled to Belfast, Northern Ireland to work on a project that, for him, hits very close to home. The Children of Belfast exhibit is a collection of color portraits and black and white documentary style photographs which recognizes the 20th anniversary of the Irish Children's Program of Rochester. Territo, who serves on the program's board of directors, says that the project was inspired in part by 13-year-old Adele Carlisle of Belfast. Adele has lived with the Territo family in their Greece home for the last three summers and Territo says, "she has become part of the family." The 40-year-old photographer went into Belfast with the perception that many Americans may have about Northern Ireland. "I was prepared to be in a violent setting but was pleasantly surprised at how normal things seemed, especially in the downtown area. Although I did not encounter any violence, there were signs of it in the segregated districts. From the 15 foot high peace walls, which physically separates the Catholics from the Protestants, to the colorful, large public murals which pay homage to hunger strikers, paramilitary groups and other themes related to their troubles." Because of the segregated districts in which Protestants and Catholics live, it is tough on everyone, especially the children. They are, for the most part, confined to their districts, and open spaces for the children to play in are hard to come by, Territo said. Many of the children featured in The Children of Belfast series, which will be exhibited at the Center at High Falls Fine Art Gallery from March 15 through May 4, have visited Rochester through the Irish Children's Program. A group of about 30 youngsters, half Protestant and half Catholic, have come here each July, since 1982 to interact with one another without the social pressures and physical barriers that divide them in their homeland. The month of July, also known as the marching season in Northern Ireland, is often a time when "the troubles" are at the worst, so coming to Rochester through the Irish Children's Program also provides these children with the opportunity to get some relief. Sixteen-year-old Kelly O'Kane is one of the children featured in this exhibit. She has spent the last two summers with the Cassidy family in Spencerport, "I found out what it's like to live in country where your religion does not matter. I stayed with a lovely family which was very good to me. I hope I will remain friends with them for the rest of my life." Territo says his photographs reflect the contrast he felt in Belfast. The color portraits, taken at landmarks and famous buildings in and around Belfast City Center, reveal a sense of optimism, while the black and white images give the viewer a glimpse of life in one of the segregated, and sometimes violent, districts. |
