Tamara Reynolds at The Baldwin Photographic Gallery in the Bragg Building. (Photo by Larry Rincon)
Featured Photo by Larry Rincon
Story by Larry Rincon
In the Baldwin Photographic Gallery, the walls are covered in photos of people struggling with addiction. The photos are by Tamara Reynolds, a documentary photographer and Middle Tennessee State University alumna who visited campus Tuesday to talk about her photobook “The Drake”.
The photobook is Reynolds’ way of documenting people with addiction and sharing the humanity behind it. The photos share stories few are willing to share.
The title of her photobook is derived from a motel that used to be located on the corner ofMurfreesboro Pike. Reynolds explained that she found herself one mile from the center ofdowntown Nashville and came across an old Waffle House Café. In front of that stood vintage “The Drake Motel.” She found herself drawn to the action and activity before her and returned to the area many times.
The panel featured several MTSU professors including Dr. Vickie Harden, Dr. AshleighMckinzie, Dr. Tom Black and Dr. Bethany Wrye. A current MTSU student Haleigh Dotson servedas the panel moderator.
Instead of solely focusing on the photo book, the panel went into a deep dive about life aspectssurrounding addiction.
The panel members left to right: Haleigh
Dotson, Dr. Vickie Harden, Dr. Ashleigh
McKinzie, Dr. Tom Black, Dr. Bethany Wrye. (Photo by Larry Rincon)
During the panel, the different professors assesed the photographs in relation to their specialties. This resulted in a thorough discussion about how addiction relates to education, social issues and healthcare.
Together they collaborated to discuss the impact, influence and inferences that could be drawn from Reynolds documentation of “The Drake”.
A photo from “The Drake” depicting the topic of community. (Photo by Tamara Reynolds)
One of the first questions tackled was brought upon by the topic of community. The photographshown in relation to the question depicted a group of hands, one pouring a drink. The panelistsbrought into consideration the way it not only brings up the idea of strangers coming togetherespecially during struggles, in this case addiction, but also a difference between men andwomen in terms of their sense of belonging and the experiences they go through.
Another topic that was discussed within the panel was in relation to shame and choices. Animage depicting a woman squatting led Tamara to talk about how she sensed that the womanhad a disability of some sort. An emotional disability is what Tamara later on refers to it as.
A photo from “The Drake” depicting the topic of disability. (Photo by Tamara Reynolds)
She dived deeper into explaining that some disabilities relate towards choice and resources.Sometimes these individuals who suffer from addiction lock themselves in a cycle of abusebecause they feel shame in asking for help even when they are desperate.
The topic of resources was further explored in two other photographs. One image depicted awoman named Amanda and the other depicted a transwoman named Taylor.
A photo from Tamara’s “The Drake” depicting
a woman named Amanda. (Photo by Tamara Reynolds)
The image with Amanda brought up the issues with the healthcare system. Dr. Wyre brought upmany questions about what factors affect healthcare and how investing in healthcare meansreceiving better healthcare. One comment by the panelists specifically referred to how changesneed to be made to these organizations that are meant to help with recovery from addiction inorder to get these problems fixed.
A photo from Tamara’s “The Drake” depicting
a transwoman named Taylor. (Photo by Tamara Reynolds)
The image with Taylor also brought up issues with resources alongside oppression. Reynoldsrecalled that she had asked Taylor why she did not go to a woman’s center. Taylor respondedshe was not welcomed there. When Tamara asked about why she did not go to the men’scenter, Taylor responded that in regards to her safety she did not feel comfortable being there.However, Taylor’s picture also brought into discussion the topic of survival. Her stoic face andfirm stance gave off the energy of empowerment which many agreed was an accuratedescription for all the individuals Reynolds photographed.
Throughout the panel a few questions focused on more general topics in relation to Reynolds’work. She answered two important questions.
The panel wondered how she went about gaining the trust of the individuals she photographed. Reynold’s answered that she gained their trust through honesty, transparency and by relating to them. She showed up everyday and was there for them which built a relationship. Reynolds also had experienced addiction and had a different level of understanding than those who don’t have experience with or around it.
The other important question presented was in regard to why these individuals return to the lifestyles that come with addiction. Again, Reynolds related her experience and opened the conversation to understanding. She said that to the individuals, addiction was their priority and their saving grace. They feel they have losted their ability to make any other choice; These individuals could no longer see how to get out especially since they had no one to rely on.
Taking everything that was discussed into consideration, the biggest take aways revolved around empathy and compassion.
“The Drake” by Tamara Reynolds emphasizes the way we stigmatize people who suffer from addiction. We as the audience should notice the pain and survival that is embedded inthese photographs. While our perspectives may not align when we draw inferencesabout the potential background stories related to the subject matter, the concept behind “TheDrake” speaks to the human condition. It invites the viewers to use their own human perspective toempathize with the people in the photographs.
Larry Rincon is a Movie Reviewer and Lifestyles Reporter for MTSU Sidelines.
To contact Lifestyles Editor Destiny Mizell, email lifestyles@mtsusidelines.com.For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, or follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines or on Twitter at @Sidelines_News.
For more news, visit www.mtsusidelines.com, or follow us on Facebook at MTSU Sidelines or on Twitter and Instagram at @mtsusidelines.