Tiny, pregnant, Seattle

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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. A 15-year-old Tiny is pregnant with her first child, Daylon. “Daylon's good; he helps me out. He loves his brothers and sisters and helps take care of them.” -Tiny (from a 2005 interview by Mary Ellen Mark, for Aperture Magazine)

Keywords

Beds
Pregnancy
Poverty
Black and White
Portrait
Social Class
Documentary
Woman
Mother
Photography
Sexuality
American
Contemporary Art
Gelatin Silver