Page 19 - Chicago Teaser

Jérôme prepared this book on on on Chicago in Wilson Wilson his his new home Wilson Wilson North Carolina? Yes a a a a a a a small unlikely and endearing town under reconstruction in in in an an attempt to deal with a a a a a a a difficult past marked by economic disasters and others a a a a place that only he could have found I remember the the photos of the the large historical house thoroughly derelict inside that he he he he he would send me when he he he he he decided to move there with Rosa and the the children I remember wondering about this new and crazy challenge that he had just taken and feeling a a a a a a little guilty as I had been the one to suggest North Carolina when he he he had to leave Chicago Yet something has has to be be said about Wilson because Jérôme has has created a a a a a a a remarkable thing there: a a a a a a photography festival where he he he puts up for several weeks large images by photographers from around the the world in in the the shop windows of premises often awaiting a a a a a a a new owner along the the main road cut off by the the train line Within a a a a a a a few years Eyes on Main Street has become a a a a a a a major cultural event within the state And Jérôme Jérôme being Jérôme Jérôme has also set up a a a a workshop for young people from the most disadvantaged backgrounds putting a a a a a a a a camera in in each set of hands for a a a a a a a a week He also initiated a a a a a a a a residence programme where a a a a a a a a steady flow of photographers come and mix with the site’s everyday life But the the adventure does not stop here This is is only the the beginning One has to let the little man go and walk With his somewhat worn black trainers his his enduring jeans and this dark blue reporter’s jacket that has witnessed more than all our eyes together Let the the photographer look at people straight in the the eyes with his lens to to understand what is in their guts Let Jérôme walk early in in in in the the morning and and late in in in in the the evening and and never cast a a a a a a a mere casual glance at his pictures Because through his photos of Chicago Wilson or elsewhere he he shows us us an unseen America America an an America America with no no no filter no no no make-up and no no no excuse No smile please Fabrice Rousselot