Kate Pollard Hoffman: Surviving Camden

Kate Pollard Hoffman: Surviving Camden by Aline SmithsonOctober 8, 2014

In Memory of Jawan, “Gizzy” ©Kate Pollard Jawan “Gizzy” Gideon died from a gunshot wound to his head. He was shot from behind while playing cards outside with friends. He was 19 years old.

Kate Pollard Hoffmann has created a thought provoking and heart wrenching project that gives a face to the violence in America, more specifically, in Camden, New Jersey, a city struggling with staggering numbers of murders. Kate shares portraits of the families affected by this violence in her project, Surviving Camden, and reminds us of the devastation to those left behind.

Kate studied photography at the Pennsylvania State University and went on to earn her masters degree in photography from the Edinburgh College of Art in the United Kingdom. Her work often focuses on personal relationships, and since the sudden death of her father in 2007, her primary photographic interest has revolved around how people cope with death and dying.

Kate exhibits worldwide, and her work has been featured in such publications as The Huffington Post, American Photo, Portfolio Catalogue (United Kingdom), Shots Magazine, and most recently in the book Reframing Photography, published by Routledge Press. She lives and works in Piscataway, New Jersey.

In Memory of Alma, “Mita” ©Kate Pollard Alma “Mita” Brito-Reyes died from fatal injuries to her head and neck, having been struck multiple times with a handgun by her soon-to-be ex boyfriend. She was 49 years old.

Surviving Camden

Camden, New Jersey is one of the most dangerous cities in America. For many families, it is the city that they call home. Children grow up amongst extreme violence and murder, and losing relatives (often young relatives), is far too familiar for many of the people of Camden. In this ongoing series, I document the families who are left behind to grieve their loved ones lost to bloodshed. Each family is shown in the dedicated shrine locations that they have created for the loved ones they lost. Some of the shrines are erected and decorated outside where their loved one was murdered, some are planted amongst the masses of crosses outside of City Hall, and some have created ornate shrines in and around their own homes. What these families want people to understand is that their family member was taken from them unnecessarily, and they are left to pick up the pieces after having lost someone they love to the endless and senseless violence in Camden. Since their loved ones cannot be returned to them, they want to be heard, recognized and remembered, and they are desperate for change.

In Memory of Kevin, “KK” ©Kate Pollard Kevin “KK” Miller died from a gunshot wound to his chest while he was out on a first date. He was 19 years old.

In Memory of Shelly ©Kate Pollard Shelly Harmon died from gunshot wounds to her neck and arm when she was caught in crossfire, standing with friends in a crowd. She was 18 years old.

In Memory of Anjanea ©Kate Pollard Anjanea Williams died from a gunshot wound to her torso. She was an innocent bystander caught in crossfire during a shoot out. She was 20 years old.

In Memory of Robert, “Bino” ©Kate Pollard Robert “Bino” Carstarphen died from gun shot wounds during a shoot out. He was 27 years old.

In Memory of Qua’Nyrah ©Kate Pollard Qua’Nyrah Houston died of smoke inhalation while trying to escape a home firebombing incident. She was 15 years old.

8. In Memory of Roberto, Damon, Terrell, and Richard

In Memory of Roberto, Damon, Terrell, and Richard @Kate Pollard Roberto “Dante” Burgess died from a gunshot wound. He was 31 years old. Damon Frazier died from a gunshot wound to his head. He was 22 years old. Terrell Cropper died from gun shot wounds after an altercation. He was 17 years old. Richard Smith died from multiple gunshot wounds. He was 33 years old.

In Memory of Luis ©Kate Pollard Luis Colon died from several gunshot wounds on the front steps of his home. He was 29 years old.

In Memory of Quenzell and Andre ©Kate Pollard Quenzell Morris died from multiple gunshot wounds while sitting on an outside stoop with a friend. He was 31 years old. His brother Andre Morris, unable to come to terms with Quenzell’s death, committed suicide a month after his brother’s murder. Andre was 28 years old.

In Memory of Anjanea II ©Kate Pollard Anjanea Williams died from a gunshot wound to her torso. She was an innocent bystander caught in crossfire during a shoot out. She was 20 years old.

In Memory of Demond and Shamazie ©Kate Pollard Demond Jones died from several gunshot wounds unloading groceries from his car. He was 40 years old. Samazie Chambliss died from multiple gunshot wounds after leaving the home of a relative. He was 20 years old.

In Memory of Rayshine ©Kate Pollard Rayshine Burks (Kishaun Burks’ cousin) died from multiple gunshot wounds to his chest, while sitting in his parked car. He was 24 years old.