What Do Detroit and Kabul Have in Common? Exhibit Brings Photographers from Across the Globe Together

“It’s amazing to see how people can connect regardless of where they’re from even regardless of language,” says Darkroom Detroit’s Eleanor Oakes.

Darkroom Detroit 1

Courtesy of Darkroom Detroit

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Young women in Detroit, Michigan and Kabul, Afghanistan are connecting through a virtual photo exchange program. 

“Detroit to Kabul” is a new photo exhibit arranged by Darkroom Detroit, a non-profit organization committed to changing visual narratives through photography.

The exhibit, which opens at the Loading Dock Gallery at Ponyride this Saturday, July 14th, to show new perspectives from two very different communities. The exhibit will open alongside Ponyride’s one-day Christmas in July maker’s market also happening on Saturday.

Eleanor Oakes, the founder and executive director of Darkroom, speaks with WDET’s Ryan Patrick Hooper about how the exhibit came together.

Courtesy of Darkroom Detroit

The Detroit to Kabul connection began because Oakes had a friend who was working with youth in Afghanistan who “thought it would be great to have the students connect, basically, using images to do a virtual exchange program between their two cities,” she says. 

“It’s amazing to see how people can connect regardless of where they’re from even regardless of language,” adds Oakes. 

 

Author

  • Ryan Patrick Hooper inside the WDET studio.
    Ryan Patrick Hooper is the award-winning host of "In the Groove" on 101.9 WDET-FM Detroit’s NPR station. Hooper has covered stories for the New York Times, NPR, Detroit Free Press, Hour Detroit, SPIN and Paste magazine.