In the News…

Marie Glancy, March 8, 2007

A COMMUNITY IN PORTRAITS

Followers of Sikhism tend to stand out in New York. This month, a series of photographs at the Queens Museum of Art turns the distinctive visual elements of everyday Sikh life into a brief but engaging show about how a little-understood culture is finding its voice in city politics.

Last September, five Sikhs became the first members of their religion ever elected to public office in New York City, taking seats in the Queens County Democratic Party. In "Fighting Prejudice with Votes: Sikhs in New York," photographer Sarah Tew captures this historic moment through a series of images depicting their entry into the political process and the tightly knit community from which they come.

For Tew, who photographed her subjects over several weekends, the greatest challenge was selecting a few pictures to convey a whole way of life. "I wanted to show the fullness of their experience, the part of their lives we wouldn't see as outside New Yorkers," she said. The photographs capture Sikhs' religious customs and leisure activities, including offering daily free meals to people of all faiths at gurdwaras, or religious centers.

Tew's project was conceived by The Grassroots Initiative - a Manhattan-based nonprofit that supports underdog candidates - as a showcase for its work. But it took on broader significance, becoming a portrait of a unique community braving integration.

Sikhs' experience in America is one of "tremendous visibility and tremendous misunderstanding," said museum director Tom Finkelpearl, discussing the show. "It made cultural sense to do it. "Fighting Prejudice With Votes: Sikhs in New York" will be on view through March 31 at the Queens Museum of Art.