riel Sturchio and Bianca Sturchio of Begin Collective

I See You See Me
2025-26 Project Grant

I See You See Me: Iowa Chapter is hosted by Begin Collective, run by twin collaborators riel Sturchio (BFA/MFA in Photography) and Bianca Sturchio (MSW, LCSW). Together, they created this project to offer a cost-free, affirming space for creative expression. As queer, neurodivergent, disabled, and chronically ill individuals, the collaborators know how rarely people like them are reflected in traditional image-making. This project is designed for those who may not identify as artists or have access to technical training, yet deserve the tools to shape how they are seen. Grounded in participatory photography, queer visibility politics, and disability justice, I See You See Me challenges traditional art practices that prioritize product over people and instead makes space for co-authorship, rest, and representation.