Where They Still Remain is a project that focuses on the African American and Wampanoag indigenous communities who have coexisted for hundreds of years on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts. The work is a memorial to these people, past and present. In it, I attempt to make the unseen seen by shining a light on histories lost due to erasure. The work consists of my original photography (medium + large format film), vernacular/archival images from both communities, and historical texts that I’ve redacted. My connection to the work is direct—I am part of the historical tradition of African American families who have found a safe haven on the island since before Emancipation.

Where They Still Remain was originally the basis of my thesis for the University of Hartford MFA in Photography program, which I graduated from in August 2023. I’ve returned to the island several times since to make additional work, but the balance I’ve achieved with the various mediums feels complete. I’m now beginning to work with a small imprint on a traditionally published version of the book, which is tremendously exciting.

In terms of how I would leverage the Project Launch Grant, first would be a contribution to the book’s creation, as I have a publisher already committed to the project. I would also like to commission a print portfolio for reviews like Santa Fe and future exhibitions. Lastly, I want to use the funds to engage with a Black and/or indigenous writer to help compose either poetry or prose to be used as part of the project, adding another layer of necessary context for the viewer/reader. As I juggle this pursuit with supporting my young family, the grant would overall be a financial relief on my way towards getting it out into the world. I believe the work to be resonant both with the community it concerns and an international audience who should recognize the themes of erasure and perseverance.

I was drawn to photography for its ability to clarify the complex and the indescribable. The strongest images do so with a distinct emotional resonance –in just a few frames. Judging this grant rearmed my belief in photography. I saw work that inspired curiosity, cultivated humility, and – forgive the cliché – left me seeing my surroundings in a different way.

In the winning project Where They Still Remain, Austin Bryant pays tribute to the African American and Wampanoag indigenous communities that reside on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. Merging his own original photography with carefully curated – and, on occasions, altered – archival materials, Bryant draws evocative and thought-provoking observations about land, the humans who shape it, and the material and cultural heritage they leave behind. There is a remarkable intentionality in each frame – it is clear Bryant deeply cares about the area and its people.

I also want to acknowledge another deeply moving project I saw. In Cancer Works, Annie Flanagan documents their experience going through chemotherapy after they were diagnosed with breast cancer. The work intertwines the raw and the poetic seamlessly. Their photographs – and their words – are something that will stay with me for a long time.

– Jehan Jillani • Visuals Editor, The Atlantic

In addition to bringing copies of my original book dummy, I would produce inkjet prints on Canson Platine Fibre Rag at several sizes (16x20, 11x14, 8x10, plus some takeaway postcards). I also already have several pieces mounted/framed, which I could ship and use for display.