In 1983, Mary Ellen Mark tackled the subject of child homelessness in Seattle in a photo series done for LIFE magazine. Though the clothing styles and haircuts are obviously dated, the lifestyles and dangers shown in Mark’s images still resonate with Seattle’s homeless youth today. After she created this series of photographs, Mark’s husband, Martin Bell, created a documentary titled “Streetwise”following the characters that Mark had chosen to photograph. The film was free of narration and almost seemed to be guided by the kids it followed. The film leaves a lasting impression with it’s intimate view into living on the streets as a child.
Text by Canbra Hodsdon
