Reach The World, But Touch The Hood First
A Family Reunion with BRITTSENSE
ALLSKATE ROLLBOUNCE, ca. 2018
“Reach the World, But Touch the Hood First” on view from June 24th through August 5th at Richard Beavers Gallery is the solo exhibition of BRITTSENSE curated by Allen Bell. Brittani Sensabaugh’s photography and vision far supersedes the narrative that society places on black and brown neighborhoods that are continually systematically underserved and forgotten. Rather than advance the theme of poverty and violence, Sensabaugh masterfully reclaims the pen from the scribes that we never appointed to tell our stories in the first place. She then highlights the true nature of the communities who enrich and breathe life into these neighborhoods.
Moved by love and compassion to reveal the truth, her captured subjects are “IN this world, but not OF it”. A powerful reminder to all the viewers of this powerful collection of works. Despite one’s physical circumstance and environment, despite the tough conditions that do not nurture growth - especially when numbers and statistics are used to predict their predestined path- the love maintained through community and connection can help us survive past the conditions that are out of our control.
SUNSHININGUP, ca. 2015
This empowering show features young children staring boldly into the camera lens with confidence and regality, and older ancestors sending messages to us with their eyes hinting at the stories they’ve lived through and the resilience they’ve built in this lifetime and the many they’ve had before. The eyes mirroring back to us the many experiences that they’ve lived and that we may have also experienced, forging connection. During the opening night, it felt like a family reunion of sorts. Throughout the gallery many started remarking on the familiarity of the subjects and the likeness to their own family members and friends. “This looks like-” or “Wow that’s my auntie…” floated through the air as cellphones were whipped out to provide proof or to capture images of the doppelganger in excitement.
As a young woman born to Guyanese parents, it was typical for a phone to be thrust into my hands to greet an auntie or uncle from the family tree we shared but one that I never got to physically meet. I remember awkwardly picking up the phone and answering with trepidation or begrudgingly as I was expected to answer “these people” with excitement and familiarity… I’ve noticed as I grow older that my temperance has changed. As life allows us to blossom on these trees, we need to water our roots, to spread good and positive energy to our fellow branches. Sensabaugh is the water that replenishes those roots, reminds us of our connectivity and fosters love within our communities throughout her work.
NANA'S STORERUN, ca. 2015
OPTIMAL VIEW, ca. 2014
Sensabaugh’s work is fueled by the purpose of reclaiming who we truly are and who we know ourselves to be. This compels her to use the camera lens to liberate through documentation. Crossing borders from Brownsville, Brooklyn to (Third Ward) Houston, Texas, to Compton, California all the way to Jamaica. Sensabaugh fearlessly heads back “to go back and get the ones left behind” the forgotten family members that society disregards, she immortalizes and takes them with her wherever she goes. Reaching the world, but always making sure to touch the hood first.
HAPPINESS IS A JOURNEY, ca. 2014
Pictured here is Sensabaugh’s Grandfather holding a loaded gun, with the challenge… “If you can shoot me, you can shoot anything” as the springboard for Sensabaugh’s dive into documentation, we honor him.