Rust Belt Photo Collective (RBPC) will hold an opening reception for its August exhibition, Women: 50 Over/Under portrait show this Friday, Aug. 8, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Doubting Thomas Gallery, 856 Jefferson Ave. in Tremont. The exhibit runs through Friday, Aug. 29.

Curated by Rust Belt founder June Hund and Laura D'Alessandro, each show participant has a powerful story to share. “June Hund and I felt a need to get local female photographers' voices heard and images seen,” says D’Alessandro.

The female photographers were randomly paired together based on age—those over age 50 and those under age 50.

The portraits uniquely reflect the personalities, emotions, and cultural identities of the women.

The rationale for the exhibit is that local female photographers of all ages have expressed concerns about their lack of visibility in the artistic community.

Younger women have said they do not feel validated, while women over age 50 revealed that they feel invisible at times. Therefore, an objective of “Women” is to unite women and enable them to exchange insights, build friendships, and explore new perspectives.

The participating photographers say they have found the project rewarding. The paired women, who met at many locations, and have fascinating stories to tell about their collaborations.

Some of these stories will be shared at the Rust Belt Photo Collective's August meeting, artist lecture, and celebration of World Photography Day on Tuesday, Aug. 19 at Doubting Thomas Gallery.

In fact, three of the photographers in “Women” happen to be born on World Photography Day.

The Rust Belt Photo Collective (RBPC) was formed in 2024 with the goal of bringing Northeast Ohio creatives together for networking, education, and exhibition opportunities. As a grassroots group, the collective makes it a priority to secure exhibition venues that are free or affordable to members.