BDC Volunteer
Spotlight:
Coline Chevrin

BY ITZEL ROBLES

Published on Dec 10, 2024

For the past two and a half years, Chevrin has been actively involved with the Bronx Documentary Center (BDC), contributing both as a learner and a volunteer. "I met photographers back in 2021/2022," she recalls. "One of them was Paula Fiterre, and she told me she was working there. I was really curious because it sounded like a place that was very much a people’s education project."

This encounter sparked a deepening interest in photography, one that would soon intersect with her academic pursuits. Chevrin became passionate about using photography to make academic research more accessible and to introduce the medium to diverse communities.

Since joining the BDC, Chevrin has participated in workshops, portfolio reviews, and exhibitions, while also volunteering at events like the Latin American Festival. "I helped install work  and showed up to support, and then was there the day of the opening," she says. She also assisted with translation during the event: "Cynthia, [the Exhibition Manager], asked me to translate from Spanish to English. I said, ‘Well, I’m the one person who’s gonna have an accent in both, but if I must, I’ll do it. It’s fine."

Through photography, Chevrin aims to document both the struggles and the resilience of these communities. "There’s a lot of violence, a lot of abandonment by the state," she notes. "Life in the communities there is always extremely difficult." However, her photography also seeks to capture the beauty of what the community members are doing to overcome adversity in their neighborhoods.

The connection between Chevrin and the communities she works with runs deep. "I feel very, very grateful that they're allowing me in their space, that they trust me," she says. "I’ve been working with them for ten years now, so they trust me, but they’ve allowed me to add the camera to these layers of work." Photography, for Chevrin, has become an invaluable tool to deepen her engagement and understanding.

Reflecting on her personal growth in photography, Chevrin admits, "Advice? Just go for it. Like, I’m the living proof. Two years ago, I didn’t even know I could take a photo. I knew I could take a picture, but I didn’t know I could actually buy a camera and start seriously taking photos."

Her work has evolved over time, with images that will soon be incorporated into her dissertation. "I have photos I’m really happy about, and at some point, they’ll be part of my academic work," she adds. For Chevrin, the power of photography lies not only in its immediate impact but in its potential for future meaning.

She recalls a poignant moment that highlights this belief: "One of the kids in one of the communities I work with passed away last week, and it turns out I had photos of him. Now we’re going to bring those photos there and give them to the family. It’s nothing big, but it’s important."

Chevrin’s approach to photography is rooted in the understanding that even the most seemingly insignificant images can acquire great meaning over time. "Take photos," she advises. "You don’t know what they might do later on, but they will do something."

Follow Coline on Instagram @coline.che