Mary Ellen Mark: Tiny, Streetwise Revisited

by Mary Ellen Mark (Photographer), John Irving, Isabel Allende (Prologue)

In 1988, Mary Ellen Mark published a poignant document of a fiercely independent group of homeless and troubled youth living in Seattle as pimps, prostitutes, panhandlers and small-time drug dealers. Critically acclaimed, Streetwise introduced us to individuals who were not easily forgotten, including "Tiny" (Erin Blackwell)--a 13-year-old prostitute with dreams of a horse farm, diamonds and furs, and a baby of her own. Since meeting Tiny 30 years ago, Mark has continued to photograph her, creating what has become one of Mark's most significant and long-term projects. Now 43, Tiny has ten children and her life has unfolded in unexpected ways, which together speak to issues of poverty, class, race and addiction. This significantly expanded iteration of the classic monograph presents the iconic work of the first edition along with Mark's moving and intimate body of work on Tiny, most of which is previously unpublished. Texts and captions are drawn from conversations between Tiny and Mary Ellen Mark as well as Mark's husband, the filmmaker Martin Bell, who made the landmark film, Streetwise. Tiny, Streetwise Revisited provides a powerful education about one of the more complex sides of American life, as well as insight into the unique relationship sustained between artist and subject for over 30 years.
Mary Ellen Mark (1940-2015) was a legendary American photographer known for her photojournalism and portraiture. Her work has been widely published and is included in public collections around the world. In 2014, Mark received the George Eastman House Lifetime Achievement in Photography Award.

Genres: Photography, Art, Nonfiction, Biography

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 27, 2015

About the author

Mary Ellen Mark, born 1940, has achieved worldwide visibility through her numerous books, exhibitions and editorial magazine work. She is a contributing photographer to The New Yorker and has published photo-essays and portraits in such publications as Life, New York Times Magazine, Rolling Stone, and Vanity Fair. For over four decades, she has travelled extensively to make pictures that reflect a high degree of humanism. Today, she is recognized as one of our most respected and influential photographers. Her images of our world's diverse cultures have become landmarks in the field of documentary photography. Her portrayals of Mother Teresa, Indian circuses, and brothels in Bombay were the product of many years of work in India. A photo essay on runaway children in Seattle became the basis of the academy award nominated film STREETWISE, directed and photographed by her husband, Martin Bell.

Reviews

[Shanley · Rating 4 out of 5]

stunning photography capturing the daily life of a 13 year old girl living on the streets of Seattle, and following her all the way through her mid-40's.

[Bridget · Rating 4 out of 5]

I almost never pick up a book based just on its cover, but that's exactly what I did with this collection of photographs, and I'm so glad I did. I love photographers who get to know their subjects, and Tiny is a fascinating subject--of course she is, just look at that defiant look and that pillbox hat!

[Alison · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stories are heartbreaking, the photos are stunning.

[SeaBass · Rating 5 out of 5]

STREETWISE is my favorite movie. Tiny is one of my favorite documentary subjects. She felt like a sister to me. She even looks like her. Flipping through this was like catching up with a lost family member. Of course, this is an updated tome. You still are granted remembrance on the rest of the gang, including Rat (who I had the biggest crush on) but -- more interestingly -- you are given at least some finality on Mary Ellen Mark's entire career as a photographer. In a way, this is as much her journey as it is these street kids. Though her passing hit me hard, I am happy that her fixation on this girl led to this final work.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mark loved photographing the edge, the gritty and the fringe of society. This is an excellent example of her work. If you like Diane Arbus or Berenice Abbott or any of the fine street photographers you'll enjoy this.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Poignant photos chronicling the life of a Seattle street kid from age 13-43 who endured trauma, generational addiction and poverty, and has 10 kids.

[Robert · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading this book and examining the pictures all I have to say is that photography and photographer s are important. You have to read this book and enjoy the photos.

[Jacopo Locarno · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best documentary book of all time

[Leonard · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another nice collection of edgy photographs of children by Mark with a surprising introduction by Isabel Allende, not that there's anything alarming or especially revealing in the introduction. It's just that I would not except to find Mark and Allende in the same book.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

30 years from the life of a woman who survived life on the streets, starting at 13.