Allison Minto is a photographer born in Brooklyn and raised in Long Island. She holds a BA in Journalism from Buffalo State College and an AAS in Commercial Photography from LaGuardia Community College. Her career started out as a backpack journalist for local news and then transitioned into media production for reality and documentary television shows. After years of working in television she decided to follow her passion and document stories through photography. Her work has been featured in National Geographic, PDN, PF Magazine, CUNY Matters, The Lit Magazine, Queens Museum, LaGuardia Gallery of Photographic Arts, The Photo Place Gallery and Project Basho Gallery. Allison will be entering the Yale School of Art MFA Photography program this Fall. She now lives in New Haven, Connecticut.
Welcome to Wasteland
Newtown Creek is a 3.5 mile tributary of the East River. This industrial canal separates north Brooklyn and the western perimeters of Queens. Once known as one of the nations busiest port, now has become one of the highest polluted waterways in New York City. In 2010, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially declared Newtown Creek as a Superfund site. In efforts to revitalize Newtown Creek, non-profit organizations and advocacy groups have been working together to create a more community friendly environment. However, gaining public access to enjoy the creek is extremely limited. And while Newtown Creek is no longer a popular commercial vessel, the barriers and hazardous remnants still remain. Welcome to Wasteland is about my personal exploration of Newtown Creek and the complex identity of the industrial landscape.
To view more of Allison Minto’s work please visit her website.