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2 Paycheques Away.. cover

  • Paperback Edition
    • 978-1-5255-9409-0
    • 8.5 x 8.5 inches
    • Premium Color interior
    • 40 pages
  • Hardcover Edition
    • 978-1-5255-9410-6
    • 8.5 x 8.5 inches
    • Premium Color interior
    • 40 pages
  • Keywords
    • Downtown Eastside,
    • Vancouver,
    • Canada,
    • portraits,
    • photojournalism,
    • homelessness,
    • mental health

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2 Paycheques Away..
Heads and Tales of the Downtown Eastside
by Alysha Osborne and Mihailo Subotic


We are all judged for a variety of biased reasons and perceived flaws. Age, personality, income. The one that hurts the most is by the way we look. At one point in time, Vancouver BC's, Downtown Eastside (DTES) was known for its social activism, and artist contributions with strong community resilience. Now, the DTES struggles with complex challenges including drug use, homelessness, affordable housing, sex work, unemployment, and so on. Today, with all the bias about the DTES it’s now seen as a tourist attraction. This book will show you how to turn judgment and bias into connection and understanding. If you read “2 Paycheques Away..: Heads and Tales of the Downtown Eastside”, you will gain insight into the struggles of Vancouver’s BC's DTES while learning about the power of transformation. This book will: - Give you a glimpse into the lives of those who have experienced hardship and judgment due to their appearance - Inspire you to look beyond what you think you know and to open your heart to those who are less fortunate - Transform your perspective of Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and help change the stigma In this book, you will get to know the inspiring story of Alysha Osborne and her mission to bring awareness to the bias of the DTES. You will also get to explore Mihailo Subotic’s before-and-after portrait series and learn what the DTES and its people are really like. Plus, you’ll get to experience the amazing transformation that takes place when haircuts and shaves are offered complimentary. Proceeds go back into the community to help change the stigma and make a difference in the lives of those living in Canada’s most controversial area code: V6A

https://www.2paychequesaway.org/


"What a beautiful story and book idea! You are wonderful humans for caring, just need more of this in everyday life." —Louise McDonald "This exhibition is the most beautiful exhibition of life and community. The images are works of art and the writing brilliant. Thank you to the wonderful barbers and persons who contributed to make this beautiful statement." —Karen Stewart "In numerous genres of photography before and after images are a worn trope to grab the viewers attention. These portraits rise above the convention and are both poignant and powerful. Every portrait is a distillation of these meetings, where strangers come together and get to know each other." —Vince Hemingson


Alysha Osborne and Mihailo Subotic photo

Alysha Osborne Alysha has been in the hair industry for 11 years. She started her career in salons and moved into barbering in 2011. While living in Gastown she became friends with some downtown eastsiders and began seeing the way they were being treated from others. Having experience with addiction in her family, she decided to start 2 Paycheques Away.. to change the stigma around addiction, homelessness and mental health on the DTES. "We’re all born the same and something as simple as 2 paycheques can make all the difference." Mihailo Subotic Mihailo uses photography as a means for story telling. 2 Paycheques Away.. has been an eye opening new project on the misconceptions surrounding the residents of the DTES. By telling each unique individual's experience through portrait photography, Mihailo has been able to capture the transformations and share the stories of the spirited and resilient individuals of the poorest postal code in the country. All from a visit to the barber.


Contributors

Author
Alysha Osborne
Author
Mihailo Subotic


What People are Saying





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