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Two exhibits by Pittsburgh photographer Charlee Brodsky currently on display at the American Jewish Museum at the Jewish Community Center of Pittsburgh command attention. Not only because they showcase the work of one of the city's most accomplished and prolific photographers, but also because they exemplify the kind of dedication it takes to become a success in that field.
Brodsky, a Shadyside resident, is a documentary photographer, curator, author and professor of photography at Carnegie Mellon University. She is the recipient of numerous awards, including the prestigious Tillie Olsen Award by the Working Class Studies Association. Her book, "Knowing Stephanie," was recognized as one of the American Association of University Presses' outstanding illustrated books of 2004. Her work is exhibited both regionally and nationally.
The first exhibit features photographs from another book project, "I Thought I Could Fly." Brodsky employs photography to lessen the stigma surrounding mental illness by pairing black-and-white photographs with first-hand narratives written by individuals who convey their personal experiences with mental illness.
Inspired by her daughter's diagnosis of bipolar disorder and her desire to connect with people and their everyday experiences,...