A photography exhibit illustrating the impacts of detention of an asylum seeker will be on display at the South Congregational Church in Concord in November with an opening reception on Saturday, November 8, from 5-6:30 p.m.
In 2018, “Antony” (a pseudonym) escaped his war-torn African home after receiving death threats. To save his family, he fled alone to our southern border and requested asylum, a legal request under U.S. immigration law. Nevertheless, he was arrested, shackled and jailed for two years in several immigration detention centers. In 2020 with the COVID-19 outbreak, immigration authorities released him under house arrest in the Seacoast area, yet he was required to wear an ever-present ankle monitor for another three years. Antony, a poet and artist, documented this time through his poetry and artwork.
In March 2021, New Hampshire photographer Becky Field met Antony, and together they started a project to document his days under house arrest while tracked with the ankle monitor. Field and Antony worked together every week for a year and a half. The resulting exhibit shows Antony’s journey in the asylum process through Field’s photos and his writings and artwork. The exhibit is unusual in that each of the ten black and white photographs is printed on large canvas, suspended in a freestanding black metal frame and accompanied by an excerpt of Antony’s poetry.
“This exhibit shows the physical and emotional pain of detaining and tracking a strong, well-educated man,” said Field. “Antony is also a man of profound faith, which has helped to keep him going.”
Since 2012, Field has been documenting the images and lives of immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers in New Hampshire. In 2021, after photographing numerous people throughout the state, she decided to spend extended time with one person and was able to connect with Antony. She holds a certificate in photography from the New Hampshire Institute of Art (now the Institute of Art and Design, New England College) and has also studied at photography centers throughout the Northeast. She currently serves on the board of the NH Center for Photography.
The exhibit at South Congregational Church is on display from Nov. 8 through Nov. 29. An opening reception at the church is on Saturday, November 8 from 5-6:30 pm. The church is located at 27 Pleasant Street in Concord. For exhibit hours, contact the church at 603-224-2521. This exhibit is made possible through generous support from Temple Beth Jacob, South Congregational Church and NH State Council on the Arts.