WAR-TOYS Blog

V&A Museum of Childhood

The renowned V&A Museum of Childhood in London has published a selection of WAR-TOYS work in conjunction with an exhibition opening on May 25th. Titled "War Games," the show examines the material culture of war, reflected in toy artifacts from 1800 until today. It's a real honor to support the exhibition and present the perspectives of children affected by war using the actual toys available to them.

More work from the last Middle East trip can be seen on the newly redesigned WAR-TOYS website. If you have a moment, I hope you'll check it out.

Talk at the Carter Library

With a threat of icy roads and snow in Atlanta, I was truly flattered and amazed by the audience that came out for my talk at the Carter Presidential Library on Thursday. There were academics, activists, artists, authors, friends, and families. The questions and feedback I received were remarkable, especially from the children in attendance. 

My humble gratitude goes to the Carter Presidential Library. It was an absolute honor to present my work at such a remarkable place, founded on the legacy of a true humanitarian. My thanks to President and Mrs. Carter, Tony Clark, and everyone that braved the bad weather to be there. 

Carter Presidential Library

It’s been a little over a month since I returned from the Middle East, but I’ve yet to have an opportunity to really reflect on my six weeks there. Fatigue, jetlag, and the blur of the holidays did their best to keep me distracted. But it’s more than that. The trip was so intense at times that I’ve sought a little distance to gain perspective.

Rather than let myself get too far away from the experience, I accepted a very flattering invitation to speak at the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library next week. I'm honored to have the opportunity to preview new work and discuss this latest chapter of the project while my thoughts (and some of the images) are still raw.

If you’re in the Atlanta area, I hope that you'll attend. The talk is Thursday, January 17th at 7pm in the Carter Presidential Library & Museum Theater. It’s free and open to the public.

In preparation for the talk, I’ve been working on postproduction for twenty-six new images and cataloging the children’s artwork that served as inspiration. Above is the final version of the photo I released while fighting was raging in Gaza and Southern Israel.

Looking through the images is like reliving the experiences and hearing the children's voices. There are so many stories to be told. I look forward to sharing them.

In the meantime, I want to begin thanking the remarkable people with whom I worked on this trip. In no particular order, my sincere gratitude goes to: Paul Vester, the American Colony, Christopher Gunness, the UNRWA, Matthew Reynolds, Talia Levanon, the Israel Trauma Coalition, Ornit Rozenblat, Debra Slonim, Milina Shahin, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Adnan Husseini, Simone Tabib, Larry Register, Asieh Namdar, Dr. Benjamin Epstein, Dina Khoury, Sderot Media Center, AMIT Torani Mada'i School, Sderot Center for Young Adults, Mazen Naim, Ashraf Al-Masrv, Asma Elementary School, Shareef Sarhan, Al-Fakhura Boys' Preparatory School, Jantien Dajani, Spafford Children’s Center, Khitam Edelbi, Cynthia Raskin, Judith Rubin, Julia Byers, Anne Stewart, Mary Kay Turner, Todd Deatherage, Iafi Shpirer, Dafna Moriya, Anne Paq, Sana Qurmush, and all of the brave boys and girls who participated.

Additional thanks goes to Potato Productions, St. Lawrence University, GoPro, SPOT, Manfrotto-Gitzo, my family, and individual supporters like you.

I look forward to sharing upcoming plans and new developments of the WAR-TOYS project. Hope to see you in Atlanta!

 

Dome of the Rock

With the extra time I've had in Jerusalem, I was able to organize a shoot that fulfilled many wishes, both mine and some children's. Since my first trip, I've wanted to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Dome of the Rock, but access is extremely limited for non-Muslims. On most days, a public pathway from the Western Wall is open for just a few short hours, and my priorities are usually elsewhere. After all, I'm not here to be a tourist.

The excuse to visit came from a series of powerful drawings made by both girls and boys in Gaza. Again and again, when asked what they hoped for in the future, the children drew themselves at the Dome of the Rock, although they usually referred to it as Al-Aqsa. Never having been there due to heavy security restrictions and the ongoing blockade, it's easy to understand their confusion. Although the dome is an iconic shrine that dominates the skyline of the Old City, it is not the mosque. Even still, it's a potent symbol, and one that the children cling to.  

I felt it appropriate to take a toy from Gaza and photograph it at the site. A plastic little boy served as a totem for the children that wished they could visit. With kind support from Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, Head of the PLO Department of Culture and Information, and Jerusalem Governor Adnan Husseini, I was able to organize a photo shoot. Although, it didn't quite go as planned. 

Access to the Al-Asqa compound is controlled by the Waqf Ministry of Jordan, and well, they didn't get a fax that was supposed to have been sent. This won't come as a shock to anyone that's spent any time in the Middle East. It's just how things go sometimes. 

I waited around the Lion's Gate entrance to the compound for an hour while things attempted to sort themselves out, but in the end, one bureaucrat kept me from entering, despite best efforts from those above him. No fax. No entry. The man lives by a code. 

Coming to terms with this, I figured out that I had just enough time to get myself and my giant backpack of photo equipment to the public entrance before it closed. This was the one chance to get the shot I had in mind. The skies were perfect. The ground was still wet in places from heavy rains the day before. And it was the only day that I had free.

By the time I hiked the narrow streets and navigated the x-rays and security to the Western Wall, then the Al-Aqsa compound, I had less than a hour to quickly explore the site and choose a spot to work. Thankfully, it came together beautifully. 

Without media liaisons hovering over me, I was able to work freely and quickly. Although without someone there to explain what I was doing, I managed to piss off a couple of people who misunderstood my intentions. This is, after all, one of the holiest sites in the Muslim faith, and I'm some random Western dude photographing a toy. Their reactions were reasonable. 

With time up and tempers tested, I grabbed a few snapshots and a little bit of footage on the way out to satisfy my tourist impulses. The shot I envisioned was completed, and I'm extremely happy with it. Again, you'll just have to settle for my account of taking the photo until I'm ready to reveal it. 

Because Al-Aqsa and the Dome of the Rock are such loaded symbols, I'm a little concerned about the political implications of creating an image that includes either. It was suggested that I create a similar image at the Western Wall to balance things out, but I've completely rejected this idea for a couple of reasons. Primarily, not a single Israeli child has included an image of the wall in their drawings. And it makes sense. To Israeli children now, it's not a symbol of freedom or conflict; it's a symbol of faith. 

Prior to the Six-Day War in 1967, it would have been a very different story. For nineteen years before the Israeli capture of the Old City, Jews were forbidden from visiting and praying at the Western Wall. To Israeli children then, the site would of had a very similar symbolic meaning as the mosque has now to children in Gaza.

Several Days in Sderot

The last week has been so busy that I haven't had the time or energy to blog. The eight days of escalated conflict put me far behind schedule, and I was struggling to get everything done in time for my planned departure this past Sunday.

On Tuesday, I once again teamed up with the amazing Dr. Benjamin Epstein and visited the AMIT Torani Mada'i School in Sderot. The school's director Dina Khoury was kind enough to grant us access to a group of 3rd and 4th grade boys and girls. 

Ben and I ran into one of the little girls from the shelter we visited the week before. She happily explained to her classmates what we (and the camera gear) were doing there and became a mini celebrity while answering a thousand questions from her peers.

Even though classes had only been back in session for a few days, the return to normalcy had a marked impact on her demeanor, and I'm told, on the rest of the children. The resilience seen in these children is remarkable.

Our mixed group of boys and girls set about drawing their pictures and answering my interview questions. As you might imagine, much of the same imagery appeared in both the school and shelters.

Qassam rockets are always on their minds, and the children are hyper alert for "Color Red" warnings. 

The proximity of shelters is a common fear that I also noticed a lot. Despite a number of community parks and playgrounds, very few children are allowed to play outside when not at school. Parents are too afraid, and in turn, so are the boys and girls. The drawing seen above was made by one of the boys, and it's about his anxiety of playing in a wooded area on the outskirts of town, too far to run to a shelter in time. 

In addition to images of rockets, Ben and I started seeing accounts of the recent bus bombing in Tel Aviv. It also fed into the collective fears of the children. 

This drawing pretty much covers all of the bases. Pictured are incoming Qassam rockets, Israeli "Iron Dome" interceptor missiles, a shelter, an icon of the "Red Color" warning (top right), and finally the bus bombing.

On Wednesday, I began scouting locations around Sderot with a local guide provided by the Sderot Media Center, in this case a college student named Idan. He was born and raised in Sderot and knew all of the unique spots, including this one (thanks again to my SPOT messenger for the exact location). It's a view into Gaza and a stark reminder just how close the city is to the border. On the hill, I could easily see the neighborhood of the driver / fixer / translator I used while in Gaza. They are just a few kilometers, yet worlds apart. 

By now, it was painfully clear that I needed to extend my trip if there was to be any hope of getting everything done that I wanted. I pushed my flight back to Los Angeles until December 7th and breathed a little easier, although with a touch more homesickness. 

Armed with the children's drawings, a list of locations, and toys purchased locally in Sderot and Ashkelon, I spent the next several days commuting from Jerusalem and photographing various setups around town. The days were extremely productive thanks to my assistants Slien and David. Slien is an old friend from my first trip to Jerusalem who volunteered for a day, and David is another student-guide provided by the Sderot Media Center. With their help, I got a whopping ten setups done in two days. 

The last one I completed in Sderot was at an elementary school hit directly by a Qassam rocket while children were in class. It may be hard to make out in this small photo, but the scars of the hit are visible just above my head on the right side of the frame. Most schools in the city have been reinforced with heavy concrete. They are essentially large shelters, however still somewhat vulnerable. The children know to stay away from windows and take immediate cover when there's warning of incoming rockets. Clearly their training and the construction of these schools are making a difference. Despite the direct hit, there were no casualties. 

The same cannot be said for the bus bombing in Tel Aviv. With my work completed in Sderot, I turned my attention towards recreating the event from the perspective of the children. I traveled with my friend Miruna to the exact spot on the corner of Shaul Hamelekh and Henrietta Szold streets where the bus exploded just ten days before. A large amount of glass was still present on the curb and in flowerbeds. 

Despite being watched closely by military police and what was likely the secret police, no one approached us, even when I set a toy bus on fire! It was nerve racking and intimidating the say the least. So much so that it didn't even occur to me to incorporate the glass until the shot was complete. Pity that I missed the opportunity to further unify the event with the children's accounts, but I'm still extremely happy with the shot. I look forward to sharing it once I've had time to process it.

With my remaining few days, I'm working to tie up loose ends and explore some unique opportunities. I can't reveal my plans, but tomorrow or Wednesday, I will be shooting at an iconic location thanks to help from some very high places. Again, I look forward to sharing it with you when I'm able. 

Thanks again to Dr. Benjamin Epstein, the Sderot Media Center, Idan, David, Noam, Ornit, Taly, Slein, Miruna, Dina Khoury, and the staff, teachers, and students at the AMIT Torani Mada'i School in Sderot. 

Sderot Shelters

Last week, on the first morning of the ceasefire, I traveled to the southern Israeli city of Sderot. Located within sight of the Gaza Strip, it has been in the cross-hairs of Palestinian militants who have fired thousands of Qassam rockets and mortars at the town since the Second Intifada.

During the eight days of conflict around the Israeli Operation Pillar of Defense, there were few moments when the automatic warning system wasn't shouting “Tzeva Adom, Tzeva Adom" (Color Red, Color Red) across a network of loudspeakers around the city. When the warning comes, residents have just 15 seconds on average to reach cover. 

Fortunately, there is a well-designed series of bunkers and shelters throughout the city, and many people have reinforced, bomb resistant rooms built into their homes. Physically safe as residents may be, the emotional toll is high, especially for the children. Upwards of 70% exhibit symptoms similar to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but since it takes six months of calm before a "post trauma" assessment can be made, the terminology doesn't really fit. The city hasn't seen more than a few weeks without rockets for most of these children's lives.

Twelve hours into the ceasefire, many parents didn't feel secure enough to bring their children home. Community shelters, such as the one seen above, were still full of boys and girls. With kind support from the Sderot Center for Young Adults and its selfless volunteers, I visited two shelters and interviewed the children inside.

The building that resembles a cargo container contains the entrance, a rudimentary kitchen, and a few bathroom stalls. The majority of the shelter lies beneath, past a blast door and down a flight a stairs. 

Local residents have done what they can to modify each shelter to suit their needs. While one felt fairly institutional, another was almost homelike with sofas and other furnishings. It's left up to each community. 

Many of the children had been living in the shelter day-and-night since the beginning of the most recent operation, eight days before. A few were too scared to even consider going outside, and any loud noise was enough to cause visible distress. A popped balloon, thanks to boys being boys, nearly sent one little girl into hysterics.

Despite some severe cabin fever and frayed nerves, the children were eager to create drawings and share their perspectives. As you might imagine, the artwork they created focused largely on the Qassam rockets and the fears they had.

But there were some remarkable surprises and imaginative results. For example, one boy wished he had arms long enough to catch the rockets.

These accounts were relayed by my accomplice for the day, psychologist Dr. Benjamin Epstein. He was a huge hit with the kids and provided invaluable help to me. 

My sincere thanks to Ben, Shelter #28 directors Almog and Yehuda, Shelter #36 director Nitsan, Sderot Center for Young Adult staffers Igal and Chen, Ornit, the Israel Trauma Coalition, Talia Levanon, and the amazing children who participated. 

In the coming days, now that classes have resumed at the schools, I hope to interview more children in Sderot and other local communities.

Hopes for Peace

The last week and a half has been full of human tragedy, and I'm glad to see it coming to an end, at least for a time. I hope that the reported truce takes hold and a lasting peace is made.

While finalizing plans to visit shelters in Sderot tomorrow, I caught UNRWA spokesman Christopher Gunness on Al Jazeera. Chris facilitated my trip to Gaza, and he's been extremely generous with his time. We managed to squeeze in a quick coffee in between his interviews a few days ago. 

It was humbling to learn that the same schools I visited last week were converted to shelters for Gazan residents. I keep saying it, but it amazes me how quickly things turned. I hope that peace comes just as fast and people are able to return to their homes.

I'm not sure how many Israeli residents will still be in shelters tomorrow, but I'm heading to Sderot all the same. I'll be sure to share what I find.

Once school resumes, it will be much easier to work with groups of children and learn about their experiences.

The Waiting and the Toys

It's been hard to watch the news and wait for whatever comes next. Seeing the death and destruction play out on live TV, I feel powerless. Hearing personal accounts from the friends I've made, I feel worried and guilty for not being there...and perhaps for the relief that I'm not. 

Mazen Naim, my translator in Gaza and former Fulbright Scholar, barely missed death when it came and took other journalists in the Central Gaza media building. He was outside on the street doing a live feed. Even still, his cameraman took some shrapnel and Mazen suffered minor eye trauma.

I've heard from mothers in both Gaza and Ashkelon that their children are physically ok, but having an extremely difficult time dealing with the constant fear. One told me about her three year old being just old enough to comprehend some of what's happening. She wishes that her son was able to stay innocent. 

I continue to work with my Israeli contacts, but while the fighting continues, there isn't much that can be done. We all wait for a truce that will hopefully come soon. 

I've been spending my days in meetings, phone calls, and emails. But today, I had enough. To get a sanity break, I decided to explore some of West Jerusalem, specifically the toy stores where Israeli children go and where I'll be buying some of my props, eventually. 

I took a meandering bus ride through various Jerusalem neighborhoods. My destination was the Malha Shopping Center, AKA the Jerusalem Mall. I hopped off the bus from time-to-time to check out stores that passed by the window. Above is a screen grab I shot to remind myself to revisit one inside the Central Bus Station.

I eventually ended up at the mall and instantly felt like I had been teleported to a New Jersey suburb. Well, that is after I got through the bag check and metal detectors. 

It was crowded for a Monday afternoon, full of families and prerequisite gaggles of young, overly made up women. I was happy to find not one, but two large toy stores, including a Toys R Us. Inside was what I had been told to expect - no military or war toys. However, the same cannot be said for its local competitor.

The other store was full of many of the exact same playsets that I found in East Jerusalem and Gaza. I now instantly recognize the artwork on the polybags. As relieved as I am to know that I'll have toys able to convey the children's accounts, it kinda screws up my plans for showing some cultural and socioeconomic differences through the toys.

Perhaps it's better that they all come from the same Chinese manufacturer. Aside from shared experiences, albeit from two different sides of the border, the children can also share their toys. 

Resilience

It's hard for me to believe that it's been less than a week since I shot this photo, harder still to comprehend the rapid deterioration of the situation in Gaza and southern Israel.

Even before this latest escalation, I was in awe of the resilience that I saw in the children living under constant threat. This photo is a reaction to that. Not based on any one drawing, it was spontaneous. As I've mentioned before, I had just seconds to grab a toy and quickly compose a shot. I wasn't even sure why I grabbed this figurine out of the giant bag of playthings I had with me. In the moment, it felt right, just as it feels right to release a draft of the image now. 

My thoughts are with the children living under siege. I know that they will emerge from this conflict and find the strength to survive and eventually thrive, despite the destruction. Still, the fear and anxiety that they must endure now is difficult to imagine. 

It's why I started this project, and why I continue it. 

Today, I was suppose to start collaborations with Israeli children living opposite the Gaza Strip, the ones targeted most by rockets and mortars fired by Palestinian militants. Unfortunately, with the situation being what it is, I'm not sure when I'll be able to begin this important chapter of the project.

I'm calling on all of my contacts to gain access to children that have been evacuated or are remaining in the relative safety of their homes. It's likely that I'll be conducting one-on-one interviews, if I'm able to do any at all while the conflict continues to escalate. With two weeks left in the trip, I'm hopeful that I'll be able to pull something together. If not, then I'll do what I can to plan for the next trip, after the situation improves.

Again, I sincerely hope that both sides will step away from the edge and begin serious discussions before this goes any further. 

Jerusalem On Alert

The conflict in Gaza has reached Jerusalem in more ways than one. This morning, heavy security surrounded the Old City and denied entry to the majority of local Arabs. Israeli forces anticipated and attempted to curtail protests, but in doing so, they stopped young Muslim men from worshipping at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In protest, and to get as close to the mosque as possible, a group of men prayed in the street just outside the blockade.

Also affected were children seeking treatment at the Spafford Children's Center. Mothers were calling frantically from the security checkpoint, trying to get help crossing, but there was nothing that the center could do. Spafford, along with most of the normally bustling Arab Quarter, was a ghost town today.

The quiet of the neighborhood made later events seem all the more dramatic. The evening call to prayer competed with the sound of air raid sirens going off across the city. For the first time, a rocket from Gaza reached the outskirts of Jerusalem. I very clearly heard and felt the explosion, although it was far off to the south. 

To be clear, I have no intention of leaving Israel early. Although Jerusalem may now be in the crosshairs, the chances of being hit by a rocket are far less than being hit by a car. I'm not worried, at least not for myself. The children on both sides are the real victims, and my job is to articulate and share their perspectives. There will naturally be some risk, but what's happening now is pure terrorism. When and if there's a real threat to my life, I'll act accordingly and probably head straight for the airport. 

Finally, I've been getting a lot of questions about my time in Gaza. Honestly, I'm still working on putting the experience into words. There's a lot that's hard to articulate, and some things that I'm not sure can be conveyed at all. I hope that the photos combined with the children's drawings will say what I can't. You'll just have to be patient and wait until they're ready to be shown.