Allyson Ely is a participant in Los Angeles Center of Photography’s photographic generator, Reservoir: Photography, Loneliness and Well Being.
The Los Angeles Center of Photography (LACP) invited Allyson to participate in Reservoir, a nine-month-long photographic incubator and mentorship program. The project comprised 37 participating artists from around the world and 7 mentor artists. Working with Guggenheim fellow Rodrigo Valenzuela,Allyson joined this cohort of artists and mentors, creating new work for this exhibit that, through visual storytelling, responds to the global crisis of loneliness. A book of the exhibitors’ work will be publishedand the show will travel nationally and internationally.
LACP put it like this: Much like reservoirs regulate the flow and storage of water, and therefore provide a sense of stability for their communities, this collaborative project incubates new approaches through creative practice, research and engagement.
The incubation and mentorship period for participants lasted from February through October, 2025. The exhibition will run from January 29 through March 14; and the opening reception will take place on Thursday, January 29, 6 pm to 8 pm. Just before the reception, Dr. Jeremy Nobel, founder of Project UnLonely, will present an in-depth exploration of loneliness as a critical public health issue, and address the role of the arts in fostering connection and improving health, wellbeing and resilience.
Here are two of Allyson’s seven images that are in the exhibition (not online yet):