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In 2018, two successful gallerists, Catherine Edelman in Chicago and Anette Skuggedal in Oslo, decided that they wanted to give back. They teamed up and started nonprofit CASE Art Fund, harnessing what they knew best – the power of photography – to call attention to the need for children’s human rights. Over the last three years, CASE has produced five photographic exhibitions, and has partnered with 19 photographers and more than 25 organizations.
Upcoming events in Chicago include an inaugural benefit featuring the premier of a short film about Cesar Dezfuli’s work with refugees, the presentation of the Humaniaturan of the Year Award to Shahidul Alam, and talks with leaders in the photography and human rights fields.
“In today’s 24-hour news cycle, readers and viewers are bombarded with images of war, disaster, and human suffering to the point of leaving them unmoved,” Edelman said. “As gallerists who work with photography, we think fine art photography has the ability to inspire people to take action. We seek out and support incredible work selected from photographic projects with a single-issue focus that we feel will have a lasting impact.”
CASE works closely with photographers whose work reflects a strong commitment to children’s human rights, and hosts collaborative programming including educational panels and exhibitions, along with timely social media and fundraising initiatives.
“We decided that children need our help. There are numerous issues affecting children including access to education and the need for safety, which CASE Art Fund advocates for through photography,” Skuggedal said.
In-person and online events this November include:
SHAHIDUL ALAM AT EAST-WEST UNIVERSITY – THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 6-7:30 PM CST
Sponsored by EXPO CHICAGO, Shahidul Alam will discuss his life as an activist and photographer with Karen Irvine, Chief Curator and Deputy Director of the Museum of Contemporary Photography at Columbia College, Chicago. The event will take place at East-West University, Waraich Auditorium, 4th Floor, 829 S. Wabash Avenue, Chicago.
Shahidul Alam is the first recipient of CASE Art Fund’s Humanitarian of the Year Award; andShahidul Alam: We Shall Defy, his first exhibition in Chicago, is currently on view at Wrightwood 659.
BENEFIT FOR CASE ART FUND – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 5-8 PM CST
CASE Art Fund’s first-ever Photography Creating Change benefit (in person and online) honors human rights activist Shahidul Alam, premiers a short film about Cesar Dezfuli’s work with refugees, and takes place at Catherine Edelman Gallery, 1637 W. Chicago Avenue, Chicago.
Benefit tickets start at $100 per person. To purchase tickets and for more information, please visit: CASE Art Fund’s Photography Creating Change Benefit.
“PASSENGERS” FILM PREMIERE – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 5
Premiering at the benefit, “Passengers,” a 17-minute film co-produced by CASE, chronicles Spanish photographer Cesar Dezfuli’s compelling journey to find and follow up with 118 young refugees rescued from a boat adrift off the coast of Libya. He received the 2020 Sony World Photography Award in Portraiture for the photography portion of this long-term project. Here’s the link to the film preview: Passenger trailer 2020 on Vimeo.
ABOUT CASE ART FUND
Founded by Catherine Edelman in Chicago and Anette Skuggedal in Oslo, CASE Art Fund’s mission as a nonprofit organization is to raise awareness about children’s human rights through the support and exhibition of photography.
CASE’s vision is to be at the forefront of presenting photographs that inspire and create a positive impact on social awareness, human rights, and children’s education. Photographic projects are exhibited in non-traditional ways in public spaces, art fairs, and at other cultural venues. CASE works with local and international organizations to help effect change. This commitment is long term and serves as the backbone for all projects that are funded.
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