Patrick Patterson, New Hampshire-based documentary photographer and storyteller, will be speaking on Wednesday, October 25, about his experience living in Ukraine for more than a year in order to document some of the devastation due to the war with Russia.
He will be speaking in Proctor Academy’s Norris Family Theater, 63 North Street, at 6:30 PM. Parking is available along North Street or in the maintenance parking lot east of the theater.
This program is for the whole Andover community and will be an opportunity to hear firsthand what the situation is like in Ukraine. The event is co-sponsored by The Andover Community Hub, the Andover Libraries, and Proctor Academy, and is free of charge.
Patterson has returned from the war in Ukraine with a powerful collection of photographs and survivor narratives, providing a poignant glimpse into the lives of Ukrainians devastated by Russian aggression and war crimes.
“My hope for these photographs and the narratives of the survivors is that I can provide a window into the lives of Ukrainians whose existence has been brutally shattered by war,” explains Patterson. Through gallery exhibitions and speaking engagements, he seeks to challenge preconceived notions and stimulate dialogue on the urgent need for justice and peace.
Patterson’s journey began in March 2022 when he traveled to Medyka, a small Polish village situated at the Ukraine border. After documenting one of the largest refugee crises since the Second World War, Patterson relocated to Ukraine to shed light on the experiences of Ukrainians living under Russian occupation.
Having spent over a year living in war-torn Ukraine, Patterson has witnessed the best and worst of humanity. From moments of respite when the war seemed distant, to times when its brutality was inescapable, he has come to understand what it means to be human, embracing the fragility of life and the value it holds.
Patterson’s unique approach transcends the traditional depiction of battlefields, soldiers, and war machinery. Instead, he amplifies the voices of those who have been deprived of their own. Through his lens, he captures the destruction of life and environment that accompanies war, striving to foster empathy and understanding among viewers.
With a longstanding dedication to document human rights and conflict, Patterson believes in the transformative power of photographic narratives to affect change and give voice to the unheard. “Each photograph is a document, evidence that someone or something has been seen,” he says.
Patterson’s powerful work has garnered recognition both in the United States and internationally, with publication in Playboy Magazine, De Groene Amsterdammer, Gazeta Polska, The Corners Magazine, and Poland Monthly Magazine. His work in Ukraine has recently been featured in the Boston Globe, and on NHPR’s “All Things Considered” and WBZ’s “News Radio Boston.”
For additional information about the speaker, go to williampatrickphotography.com/
For additional information about the program, go to cindybenson@nulltds.net.