MARY ELLEN MARK Tiny Streetwise Revisited

MARY ELLEN MARK Tiny Streetwise Revisited. In 1983 Mary Ellen Mark began to photograph a group of fiercely independent homeless and troubled youth. They were making their way on the streets of Seattle as pimps, prostitutes, panhandlers, and smalltime drug dealers. Initially published in July of that same year in Life magazine. Ultimately this work came together in the 1988 publication Streetwise. As well as the 1984 documentary film of the same name by Mark’s husband, filmmaker Martin Bell.

Streetwisepoignantly introduced several unforgettable children, including Tiny (Tiny was her street name; her given name is Erin Blackwell), who dreamed of a horse farm, diamonds and furs, and having ten children. Since meeting Tiny over thirty years ago, Mary Ellen Mark continued to photograph her. Then creating what became one of Mark’s most significant and long-term projects.

MARY ELLEN MARK Tiny Streetwise Revisited incorporates the most powerful images from Streetwise and then takes us from thirteen-year-old Tiny to the middle-aged mom of ten we meet today.

Tiny’s story also insists that we consider the roots and cycles of poverty, addiction, and homelessness—and their potentially destructive manifestations and effects: even the safest and most secure family life may suddenly feel terrifyingly vulnerable. An already unstable family situation may implode.

This is a significantly expanded iteration of the classic monograph. It shows the iconic work of the first edition along with Mark’s moving and intimate body of work on Tiny. Most of which were previously unpublished. Texts and captions are drawn from conversations between Tiny and Mary Ellen Mark.  As well as with Mark’s husband, the filmmaker Martin Bell, who made the landmark film, Streetwise.

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