Rachelle Lee Smith

Rachelle will engage in a collaborative effort with Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ) people through the medium of photography. Rachelle will create a book based on photographs of queer youth. The images of the youth will be taken against a stark white background to prevent any exterior environmental influences. Then, when the images are printed, the final step will be completed by the youth when they do artwork or write statements, quotes, stories and memories directly onto the photo, creating their own background. Rachelle is a 25-year-old lesbian youth who feels that she is able to engage and exchange with the youth she photographs in projects like this which provide a space where LGBTQ people, especially youth, can feel empowered, can see themselves and be seen, can add their voices to an artistic process.