Dementia in the arts: Telling the stories of dementia through photography

Gina Martin worked at National Geographic for 21 years. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Bob and Diane Fund, an annual photography award for visual storytelling about Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Gina Martin’s mother, Diane, was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia in 2006, which turned her life and that of her family upside down. Bob, Gina’s father, supported and cared for his wife for five years, until she passed away in October 2011. He passed away three short months later.

Ms Martin is the Founder and Executive Director of The Bob and Diane Fund, which offers an annual USD 5,000 grant to photographers whose work tells a story about loss or about the growing health crisis caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. It aims to show people that dementia is more than just memory loss, that it has a deep impact, not only on the person with the diagnosis, but also on their families and carers.

Gina Martin

The fund awarded its first grant to Swedish photographer Maja Daniels for her project “Into Oblivion”, in 2016. In 2020, it was won by Iranian photographer Jalal Shamsazaran, for his project, “The Loss of Oral History”. Alzheimer Europe spoke to Gina Martin about the fund, which was named in honour of her beloved parents, and about this year’s winner.

Can you tell us a bit more about the beginnings of the Bob and Diane Fund, and why you created it?

Alzheimer’s (and dementia) is a disease that, unless you have experienced it, you don’t truly understand it. Working for National Geographic for more than 20 years, I understand the power of visual storytelling. I thought: “Why not combine my two passions (photography and finding a cure for Alzheimer’s) and bring a visual understanding to the disease by supporting photographers and their projects with a wider audience?”

What has been your biggest achievement, so far, with the fund, and what are you most proud of? Has it evolved beyond what you expected?

Oh my gosh, yes, it has evolved! I thought I would just be writing a check once a year and that would be it. In the five years of the fund, I have become much more involved in the Alzheimer’s/dementia community than I ever imagined. I never thought I would speak on the subject or become an advocate – and that has been a pleasant surprise. More importantly, having the honour of so many photographers from around the world knowing about our grant and applying for it. I am amazed each year that we get submissions from 25 different countries – that just blows me away! Then the excitement when the Washington Post publishes the grantees’ work and we get to share the work with the world – which is what we are all about.

What is the thread that connects all the winning projects? What draws you to them in particular?

Hmm, that is a good question. Obviously the one common theme is Alzheimer’s/dementia. Though each one has not necessarily been about a family member, they do each show the disease with honesty and dignity – which is so important. Yes, Alzheimer’s is ugly, sad, and depressing – but there can be a lovingness through caregiving and I do see that in each one. What draws me to each grantee’s project is truly the images and the storytelling. We read every proposal, but we do really look at the images: are they strong? Is the presentation strong? Does it tell a story? Does it tell the story of dementia? In the end, that is what we really look at.

Bob, Gina, Diane

The fund helps to financially support aspiring and upcoming photographers, but what is its wider purpose in the context of the dementia field and community?

We actually support all photographers, from aspiring to professional level. The Alzheimer’s/dementia community is doing amazing work in all aspects from outreach to research. We try to partner and work within this community in bringing the visual awareness to the existing community and to a wider audience.

This year’s winner is Jalal Shamsazaran, for his work on “The Loss of Oral History”. Can you tell us more about the photographer, his project, and why he won?

Jalal applied last year as well and came so close to receiving the grant. He re-applied this year with the same project, but presented differently and it won – deservedly so. In 2018, we chose a black and white project, but not like this one. Jalal’s black and white images are gritty and journalistic. Every image in his submission was strong. I would not have taken out one of them. That is the experience of a true photojournalist. Washington, DC-based photographer, Jared Soares and I judged the work together and we both were so drawn to his style of photography and his voice throughout. We also liked that fact that he wants to use the grant money to create a book – which takes the work even farther.

Obviously the one common theme is Alzheimer’s/ dementia. Though each one has not necessarily been about a family member, they do each show the disease with honesty and dignity – which is so important.

- Gina Martin

How can people apply for the 2021 edition of the award and when is the closing date?

Our grant opens every year in late August/ early September. We keep submissions open until the end of October and announce the winner in November, for National Caregivers’ Month.

The photos

All the photos shown in this article are from this year’s winning project, “The Loss of Oral History” by Jalal Shamsazaran. You can view the full project, here: https://www.bobanddianefund.org/2020-grantee

Website: https://www.bobanddianefund.org/

Email: bobanddianefund@gmail.com

Twitter: @bobanddianefund

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ BobandDianeFund/

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