Seeing history's reflection: North is Freedom, The Guardian, and the ongoing journey
Photography, for me, has always been a way of seeing – not just capturing a moment, but feeling the echoes of time within it. That sensation came back strongly this week when I saw Adria Walker's thoughtful and sensitive piece about "North is Freedom" published in The Guardian. Reading her words, seeing the portraits presented to a global audience, feels like another important step in honouring the stories held within those frames. It validates the journey I began somewhat unexpectedly back in 2016.
My path to this project wasn't direct. It started with a chance encounter, a monument in northern Ontario, a conversation that led me down a path of discovery into the Canadian terminus of the Underground Railroad. My own history – escaping Czechoslovakia in '68, the weight of my parents' survival through the Holocaust – perhaps tunes my senses to certain frequencies of displacement, resilience, and the fight for freedom. The circumstances are vastly different, of course, yet as I shared with Adria, the fundamental human threads connect: “It’s about freedom, about struggle, about cherishing the past – or, at least, remembering the past.” It’s about recognizing the unshakeable spirit that drives people to seek safety and build a new life against overwhelming odds.
Meeting and photographing the descendants has been the heart of this project. It's more than just portrait sessions; it’s hours spent listening, sharing, feeling the tangible presence of history in the room. These are not just subjects; they are keepers of generational memory. Discovering their deep knowledge of ancestors, tracing lineages back five, six generations to those who risked everything on the journey north – it’s humbling. The "discovery," as I called it when speaking with Adria, wasn't just finding people, but uncovering the vibrant, living continuity of their ancestors' courage.
This work truly found its footing and its soul through collaboration, especially with curator Dorothy Abbott. Her own family arrived via the Underground Railroad, settling in Owen Sound generations ago, and her personal connection infuses the project with authenticity and deep understanding. She joined the effort shortly after the first exhibit iteration, helping guide its path and connecting us with more families, enriching the collection immensely. Her reminder that, “We want to pay homage to our ancestors who blazed the path before us…” is a guiding principle for us both.
Seeing the portraits hanging together now at the Art Windsor-Essex gallery (until June 8th) always brings a unique feeling – a collective presence, a testament to survival and contribution. Windsor itself is such a key location in this history. It feels right to have the exhibition here.
And the journey isn't over. As Adria touched upon in her article, Dorothy and I both feel strongly about bringing "North is Freedom" across the border to the United States. It feels necessary, somehow, to complete the circle – to share these stories of resilience and legacy in the places where the journeys began, acknowledging the shared, complex history that binds Canada and the US.
Thank you to Adria Walker and The Guardian for helping share these vital narratives. And thank you to everyone who takes the time to look, to learn, and to remember. These aren't just photographs; they are testaments.
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