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The Women Are Heroes Project - A Mother's Heartbreak

By
Real Estate Agent

Yesterday I posted a photograph for Wordless Wednesday - Women are Heroes Project....As the saying goes - "A picture is worth a thousand words!"  The story behind the photos is amazing...it's mesmerizing, thought provoking and it takes social Activism to a profound level.

 

A young French photographer and social activist named JR., working with the group Médecins Sans Frontières, spent most of last year photographing (and honoring) the dignity, strength and vulnerability of women caught in the middle of humanitarian crises in the African countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Southern Sudan and Kenya and most recently in Brazil.

Through a series of breathtaking portraits the project named 'Women Are Heroes'aims to highlight women's pivotal roles in their communities.  Clashes between police and drug traffickers and violent loss of loved ones are part of everyday life  for many of these women...The heartbreak, the loss, the pain in a mother's eyes.....and yet...


 JR's photographs focus on the eyes as the gateway to the soul.

JR asked many of the women to pull a face before he snapped them with his 28mm lens. He claims that this reveals their strength and the spark of life despite their painful experiences.

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For me, what makes JR's work so powerful is the way in which he chooses to display them in public. Rather than showcase the work inside a gallery JR enlarges each image to surreal proportions and places them unauthorized on walls and buildings in the country of their origin. These images have such an impact - massive in size and impossible to shy away from - its absolutely astounding.

 

                    

                                                                   

                                     If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property in Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you're considering a career in Real Estate or would like more information about Keller Williams please give Liz  Moras a call!  Managing Broker and Team Leader - 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@shaw.ca  

 

Comments (22)

Jamie Dumaine-Russell
RE/MAX Alliance - Branford, CT

Liz - All I can say is I'm speechless....what a powerful display of art and talent.

Feb 12, 2009 03:14 PM
Jennifer Fivelsdal
JFIVE Home Realty LLC | 845-758-6842|162 Deer Run Rd Red Hook NY 12571 - Rhinebeck, NY
Mid Hudson Valley real estate connection

Liz - This is amazing and surely is an attention grabber.  I just wondered what the authorities in these county thought of such an exhibit.

Yes the eye is the window to the world.

Feb 12, 2009 03:38 PM
Brian Lee Burke
Kenna Real Estate - Lone Tree, CO
Broker & Advising Expert-Kenna Luxury Real Estate

Liz - this reminds me of some of the things I saw in Guatemala - so heartbreaking. Wow, the eyes... ~Rita

Feb 12, 2009 04:18 PM
Lynn Johnson
Coldwell Banker Home Connection - Owatonna, MN
Owatonna, MN Real Estate

Thanks, Liz, for sharing such a powerful visual display.  I love it when our old perceptions are replaced with new ones.

Feb 12, 2009 04:33 PM
Steve Shatsky
Dallas, TX

Hi Liz... these are incredible powerful and moving portraits.  What amazing works of art and tribute.

Feb 12, 2009 05:03 PM
Randy Hooker
Dreamcatcher Realty / Greater Phoenix Area - Gilbert, AZ
Gilbert, Chandler, Mesa, Queen Creek

Hey Liz, those are not just photos, or even works of art. They are truly inspirations of the soul and spirit. Thank you for bringing light and attention to JR and his gifts to all women on this planet.

Randy Hooker - Dreamcatcher Realty - Arizona Real Estate

Feb 12, 2009 05:14 PM
Dario W. Castiglia
LightHouse Realty - Abbotsford, BC
Super Dario

Liz, this is an excellent portrayal of what is going on in this world.

Well done and great find!

Dario

Feb 12, 2009 05:16 PM
Bill Gassett
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Hopkinton, MA
Metrowest Massachusetts Real Estate

Wow that is amazing. The picture also made me stop and think how I live and what the less fortunate live with everyday. I guess you wouldn't call the private lots.

Feb 13, 2009 12:41 AM
Sharon Richards
Kirsten Realty Tampa Florida - Tampa, FL

Liz - I am so thankful for everything, because a lot of women have so much darkness in their life.

Feb 13, 2009 12:16 PM
Joanne O'Donnell
Chic Home Interiors - Oakland, CA

Liz, how amazing is this?  with your permission, I would like to pass this link along to people I know will appreciate the beauty, the importance, the artistry and the sheer bold statement of this collection. thank you so much for sharing this amazing gift...

Feb 13, 2009 02:53 PM
Karen Cooper
Karen Cooper | Sr Mortgage Loan Originator ! NMLS # 223305 | First Federal Bank of Florida, Ocala, FL - The Villages, FL
Helping Homeowners w/Home Loans in 27 US States

Liz - This is a heartwarming story, and awe-inspiring work. Thank you for sharing this.

Feb 13, 2009 03:06 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Gary - the eyes say it all don't they? hmm

Kate - you're right..one of my doctors does this every year..

Donna - I'm intrigued by how he chose to express it.........

Feb 14, 2009 04:52 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Jennifer - Its a good question - he's done it in several countries...but I haven't read anything about the gov't's reaction to it...

Rita - Yes so many third world countries........even the ones we chose to visit........we seldom go to those parts of the cities - to see these living conditions...its hard to get your head/heart around.

Lynn - sometimes.......:-)

Feb 14, 2009 04:54 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Steve - it certainly is an orginal/unique way of bringing attention to this plight...

Randy - you're right it is an inspiration and call to awareness for both the soul and spirit...

Dario - its amazing what out there.....and how we somehow unexpectedly stumple on these treasures of awareness...

Feb 14, 2009 04:56 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Bill - so true...we live so 'unconscious' of the world around us - so much of the time...

Sharon - yes we have so very much to be thankful for...

Joanne - by all means you can share or reblog it..:-)

Karen - I wonder what we do with the awareness....?

Feb 14, 2009 04:58 AM
Kathy Clulow
Uxbridge, ON
Trusted For Experience - Respected For Results

Liz - The eyes truly are a gateway to the inner most sanctum of the human experience often times the eyes tell the real story while the face remains unmoved.

Feb 14, 2009 07:28 AM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Kathy - you're oh so right!  Haven't seen you in ages Kathy - hope all is well- missed you!

Feb 14, 2009 01:57 PM
Bob Dunn
Sutton Group West Coast Realty - Abbotsford, BC

Very touching Liz. There is so much room for social justice in our world. Ive walked in some areas in Taipei where few tourist go and its obvious to any eye that even in a city a rich and progressive as this that many women and children are socially and economically constrained. Seeing very young children playing on a piece of cardboard placed on the sidewalk while their parent tends to their street vending cart saddened me.

Feb 14, 2009 03:07 PM
Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

Bob - You're so right....I can only imagine what you've seen in Taipei...we are so fortunate here - and should could our blessings ever single day!

Feb 15, 2009 04:10 AM
Debra Kukulski, Broker Associate
RE/MAX Suburban - Cary, IL
SRES;SFR,CDPE;GRI;ABR;e-PRO Realtor, Northern IL

This is just an amazing post and story...thank you for sharing it.

Feb 17, 2009 12:03 AM