12/17/09
Text: Andreas Herr
For documentary photographers a lot of times their assignment turns out to be a life changing experience. For Matt Wignall—our friend and past contributor to Anthem—this was definitely the case. This Saturday night Matt will be exhibiting his photos from a recent trip to Malawi Africa while on a mission with Water Wells For Africa.
As described by Matt, "Malawi Africa is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is an absolute shock to step off of an airplane into an environment like this. It literally transports you back hundreds of years. It is a combination of some of the saddest things you have ever seen, and at the same time, some of the most precious and beautiful. My job was to photograph, to document their lives, the beauty of their culture, the family bonds and the love they share with each other. Most of all, my photographs were to show how a simple thing like water can change the lives of the Malawian villages. This was not about changing a culture, not about welfare, this was simply the gift of water, installed by a local African company, funded by this small charity from California. An investment in the city through local well drilling jobs, an investment in humanity through fresh water that prevents life threatening diarrhea, cholera and God knows what other strange parasites and diseases. This was a hugely emotional journey not only physically, but an emotional and spiritual journey. To cope with and not be overcome by this, I would focus on my work, I would channel all of this respect, and sadness, and love into the photographs. At the end of the trip I would look at these photographs and be overcome by the emotions and the beauty of these people. I even found myself a little jealous of their culture and tight sense community, something we often lack in the big cities of the world."
The exhibit takes place at the James Gray Gallery on Saturday December 20th, 7-11pm. The gallery is located inside the Bergamot Station Art Center.
Photographs by Matt Wignall with art by Matt Maust, Karl Drehsen, Vern Moen, Stormy Monday, and Melinda Moen with music by DJ Clemmons.
Bergamot Station Art Center
2525 Michigan Ave. Building D4 Santa Monica, CA 90404
For info on how you can contribute visit www.waterwellsforafrica.org
