Photojournalist & Huntsville native Shedrick Pelt has joined forces with Huntsville-Madison County Public Library Foundation to present his latest project “Hear To Be Seen,” a portrait series of Huntsville musicians, through an interactive exhibition at The Orion Amphitheater on September 5, 2024.
“Hear To be Seen” will serve as a platform to exhibit various aspects of the artists’ lives, including their connection to the community, cultural influences from their heritage and daily life, their creative process, fashion and style, and other defining characteristics. These visual representations will be complemented by insightful dialogues, offering crucial context into the artists’ fundamental identities at their core and how these facets manifest in their musical expressions.
The project will conclude with a gallery showing of the images promoted with an opening event in Huntsville, AL at The Orion Amphitheater. The night will also see these artists take stage with performances and an artist talk moderated by Shedrick Pelt. This project is being funded in part by the Huntsville-Madison County Library Foundation, and all artists featured in the exhibit are on HMCPL’s Blast Music platform.
Dedicated to fostering culture and community, Shedrick’s work is situated at the intersection of time and place, allowing him to delve into intricate conversations and themes while embodying a role akin to that of a historian. Of “Hear to Be Seen,” Shedrick writes:
This portrait series arrives at a pivotal moment for Huntsville, Alabama, a city currently in the process of defining its own unique identity within the entertainment world…Through these portraits, we endeavor to amplify the voices and faces driving the rhythm, unveiling the intricate tapestry of experiences that have cultivated the dynamic music scene in Huntsville. Our mission is to bridge the gap between the past and present, paying homage to the roots, embracing the ongoing evolution, and rejoicing in the authenticity and diversity of the artists who play a pivotal role in its unfolding narrative.
Shedrick currently resides in Washington DC covering Capitol Hill as well as telling the distinct local stories of our nation’s capital. With over a decade of experience, Shedrick specializes in photojournalism, portraiture, music, and commercial photography. Since 2018, he has been an active collaborator with a dynamic network of artists and grassroots organizations, including Story District, Dupont Underground, Exposed DC, Parklife DC, and Partners Global. In 2022 Shedrick started as a contributing photographer for Getty Images and most recently in 2023 a freelance photographer for The Washington Post and Black media outlet The Washington Informer.. Commencing his career in live music photography, Shedrick has been an integral part of the official SXSW photo crew since 2015, collaborating with numerous artists across the United States. Currently serving as a Board member at Focus On The Story, he actively contributes to their annual photo festival.
Sponsored by:
This project is supported by the Alabama Humanities Alliance, a state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the Alabama Humanities Alliance or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
