Tiny during the birth of Daylon, Seattle

More Information

In 1983, Mary Ellen Mark was sent by LIFE magazine to photograph street kids in Seattle. There, she met thirteen-year-old prostitute Erin “Tiny” Blackwell. Tiny became one of the central subjects not only of Mark’s photographs, but also of the documentary film Streetwise which followed in 1984. Mark has unflinchingly documented Tiny’s life for nearly three decades, illustrating her struggles with poverty, substance abuse, and abusive partners and family, but also capturing moments of joy and intimacy. Tiny in the hospital during the birth of her first child, Daylon. “My first baby I gave up temporarily cause I still wanted to run around and wasn't ready when I thought I was.” -Tiny (from the 2004 documentary film Erin, by Martin Bell)

Keywords

Pregnancy
Documentary
Photography
Social Class
Contemporary Art
Sexuality
Poverty
Birth
Female
Black and White
American
Beds