GLORY BE - Women's March on Washington
All-American XVII - Glory Be - The Women's March Article Cover Page Photo: Lynda Churilla
THE SCENE
I almost dropped the phone from excitement when Bruce Weber called me to commission photographs for the seventeenth edition of his annual arts journal - "All American XVIII- Glory Be". He wanted me to chronicle my experience at the historic Women's March in Washington DC last year.
I had plans in the works to go already - and this sealed the deal! I knew it was going to be an extraordinary event.
I went to the march with my best friends. Even though we intended to stay together, once we arrived we all lost each other.
Everyone was really on their own, which meant that everyone got something different out of the experience. We would find each other, and then lose each other again. One of us would stop to listen to a speech and get mesmerized and lose the others.
All American XVIII Journal By Bruce Weber. Painting by Rockwell Kent
I STILL GET EMOTIONAL ABOUT THE INCREDIBLE
PEACE AND LOVE I FELT THAT DAY
Women's March on Washington- Photo: Lynda Churilla
Sidra Smith at the Women's March on Washington - Photo: Lynda Churilla
I had such a connection to the women at the march – I was shooting and listening to people's stories about where they were from and why they were there. There were grandmothers, mothers and children - generations of women together. It was important for me to have some backstory on what brought everybody there. It made it that much more intense and meaningful to me.
Women's March on Washington - Photo: Lynda Churilla
I arrived before dawn. The light was insanely gorgeous and weird at the same time. Throughout the day the morning mist persisted, which was calming. I feel like it kind of brought everyone together. There was an intense, close-knit feeling among all these strangers.
Anuschka Pashel at the Women's March on Washington- Photo: Lynda Churilla
PINK GAFFER TAPE...
I didn't have anything pink when I arrived! Except for my pink gaffer tape which I use on shoots. (What photographer wouldn't have pink tape!?). I immediately wrapped it around my right arm - and my friends jumped in. Not that you needed something like that to be a part of the crowd and feel it's energy. Tape represented a sisterhood for photography and its power to move the world - - -pink bands become our team's thing.
Denver & NYC unite in D.C., Lynda and the Girls!
AT THE END OF THE DAY
I stayed on the streets photographing until 11:00 p.m. I was completely high of the experience, witnessing history with my friends. I was so honored to be one of the four female photographers for Glory Be.
To be the part of something so big - that has helped amplify the dialogue and movement around women's rights is truly invigorating!
Anuschka Pashel, Photo: Lynda Churilla
Signs Of The Times
A YEAR LATER....
Looking back on this historic day - and seeing how much has changed in the last year, I can't wait to see what the next decade brings us as a society and culture!
Anuschka Pashel, Women's March on Washington - Photo: Lynda Churilla