My partner and I relocated to Durham, NC in 2021, during the unsettling times of Covid-19. Because of the arm’s-length nature of our arrival, I have often struggled to make a certain sense of this city, county, area. Like so many cities which became newfound refuges for those displaced by pandemic or the ongoing economic uncertainties, Durham is rich in relative appeal, stories and narratives, beauty and conflicts. It has as many deep roots as it does opportunities, and as new residents arrive in droves, proud locals find themselves increasingly entangled in a nuanced recalibration of its Self. So how best do we know a place? How best do we know ourselves? When you live in a region for any amount of time, how will you influence the story of your home or the people around you? What marks will you make in the shapes of histories continually unfolding?

In this exhibit, I’m presenting a selection of photographs which chart a path through some of the places I’ve visited, lived, and have deep affections for. With some older pieces scattered through new ones, this is an ongoing conversation through time. They represent intentional observations about what attributes make a place uniquely home, or make a home unbearable, or make moving on from an area promising, or achingly heartbreaking. This work speaks to that symbiotic sense of reckoning, curiosity, hopefulness, and the deliberate effort it requires in making meaningful connections with one another, whether we move forward together or apart. My wish is that we move through our worlds with openness, love, and empathy; a willingness to make space and seek out a shared humanity within neighboring communities, wherever we land and choose to live.

C. Bay Milin

July 11th- October 5th, 2025

Durham Arts Council Allenton Gallery

Third Friday opening, July 18th from 6-8pm

Closing event, August 15th from 6-8pmFor more info: https://www.cbaymilin.com/projects/dtttm