Over a period of nearly a decade, acclaimed photographer, artist, and filmmaker Judy Gelles posed three questions to fourth graders around the world. Who do you live with? What do you wish for? What do you worry about? 

The students’ responses spoke to the common human condition and range of societal issues we face today – from violence and global hunger to immigration, the demise of the nuclear family, and the impact of media and popular culture. Gelles incorporated the images and words of 65 of the youngsters, from 10 different countries, in an absorbing traveling exhibition aimed at connecting visitors locally and globally and bridging cultural differences. 

Gelles, who died in March 2020 at age 75, described herself as a “conceptual and photo-based artist using words and images to provide social commentary on who we are and how we think.” Her work is included in major collections including the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.