Photography Opening
October 4th, 2-4 pm
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Live music by Baggage Claim (Artreach Jazz Band) Display of work developed in a workshop series with Mona Penn-Jousset and Coco Olakunle.
Unseen Stories
About the Photography Show
The work presented on October 4 from 2 - 4 pm at the Artreach Gallery was created during a workshop series with AtelierMOCA where attendees gained new perspectives on how photography can serve as a tool for connection, storytelling, and deeper awareness of others. Participants also learned the responsibility of both the photographer and the viewer in shaping images with care, understanding, and respect.
Where
Artreach, Inc.
401 W. Thames St., Unit 702
Norwich, CT 06360
When
Final Exhibition: Sat, Oct. 4th 2-4pm
The workshop concluded with a public exhibition of participants' work, celebrating unseen stories and encouraging new ways of seeing.
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Photography Workshop Sessions were held in September, 2025.
Photos from the October 4th Opening
 Introductions at Unseen Stories Photography opening |  Coco describes the photography process. |  Coco speaking. |
|---|---|---|
 Sky, Sunlight, Coffee (Paul Collins) |  Things I Like, Things I Care About (Melody Smith) |  Flower in the Machine (Leo Mulberry) |
 Beauty in the Breakdown (Lara Grace) |  Grown (Cynthia Adams) |  Photo by Cynthia Adams |
 By the Sound (Emma Palzere-Rae) |  Are You Going With Me to the Other Side? (Dick Pape) |  Love and Beauty (Das Butts) |
 Photo by Das Butts |  Rediscovering Whimsy (Carin Jennie Estey) |  Photo by Carin Jennie Estey |
 Natural Beauty (Becca Atkins) |  Unity or Extinction (Barbara Stanley) |  Photo by Barbara Stanley |
 Becca, Coco, Mona and Carin |  After the Otis Workshop |  Coco Olakunle and Mona Penn-Jousset |
AtelierMOCA (www.ateliermoca.com) is a collaboration of this creative duo. They formed MOCA to actualize their shared belief in the possibility of a more positive and connected world. They have presented at NEOMA Business School, the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague, Ultrecht School of Art, and many other locations. Mona was the first lecturer of African descent at the Royal Academy of Art, and has over thirty years of teaching experience in the United States, the Netherlands, and France. Coco brings a vibrant, global perspective from her work across Europe and Africa.
Mona Penn-Jousset
Mona Penn-Jousset is an American writer, filmmaker, podcaster, Visual Culture Scholar, and
Empathic Communication Specialist residing in France. With over 30 years of international
teaching experience across the United States, the Netherlands, and France, she was the first
person of African descent to teach at the Royal Academy of Art, The Hague. After studying
Film/Theater and Black and Puerto Rican Studies at Hunter College, New York, Mona received
her BA from New College of California and her MA in Arts and Culture from Utrecht
University. Her book, The Empathic GazeTM: Art, Thinking, Theory, and Praxis, Vol. 1 – Curated
Thoughts on Empathy, blends original theory, full-color photography, graphic design, and
sketches with essays from over 40 contributors from all seven continents to explore empathy
in art, culture, and human connection.
Coco Olakunle
Coco Olakunle is a Nigerian-Dutch photographer, filmmaker, and mentor known for her
intimate visual portraits and empowering documentary work.
Coco works across Africa and
Europe, specializing in social photography and is known for her sensitive portraits of people
living in some of the world’s largest refugee camps. Coco received her BA in Human Geography
at the University of Amsterdam.
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Coco brings a vibrant, global perspective from her work across Europe and Africa.
Opening October 4th
Live music by Baggage Claim (Artreach Jazz Band) Display of work developed in a workshop series with Mona Penn-Jousset and Coco Olakunle.