Project Description
The ‘Bout That Life story follows G. Mesa, a young man living
in the Bronx, as he navigates life as an undocumented immigrant.
There are hundreds of thousands of Dominicans living in New
York City, including an unclear number who are undocumented
and came to America as children in the 1980s and 1990s.
Individuals like G. are marginalized and often live in isolation.
For this particular ongoing project, the images presented give a
Danny R.
Peralta
glimpse of his anonymous, yet familiar life of family, work, and
play. The images were created with the intention of adding to the
dialogue on the war on immigration and drugs in the United States
and are compiled from many hours spent with the subject in and
around the tri-state area. It is also the intention of the artist to use
the story as an educational tool via artist talks and engagements.
Bac k gr ou n d
Danny Ramon Peralta was born in The Bronx in 1978 and was
BRIO Award), LOVE LIVES (a call for trauma relief in Hunts Point)
raised in the Inwood section of upper Manhattan. Shortly after he
and ‘Bout That Life (recently featured in BX200’s Bronx Now exhibit).
graduated with a Bachelors of Arts and Science from NYU’s School
In 2008, he went back to THE POINT CDC to work as Director of Arts
of Education in 2000, he began his work as a youth educator and
and Education, and in the fall of 2015 became the Executive Managing
community developer. In 2002, while searching to expand upon his
Director. In 2009, he also co-founded Peasant Podium Music, curating
love for art and storytelling, he formally began attending black and
live musical showcases and visual art experiences not only for local
white photography workshops at ICP @ THE POINT in the South
artists but for individuals from throughout the globe. He currently lives
Bronx. He was awarded the first ever Jocelyn Benzakin Fellowship
in the Pelham Parkway section of The Bronx with his wife and two
for documentary photography in 2005 where he studied intensively at
sons, who inspire his every endeavor.
the International Center of Photography as a concerned photographer.
From that point on, he turned his camera onto his immediate family and
community, completing compelling projects like Ma (winner of 2007
www.dannyrperaltaphotography.com
Danny R. Peralta . ‘Bout That Life 121014, ‘Bout That Life: The G Mesa Story series . 2014
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