Five New Visions in Documentary Art

A Duke student views a photo of themself on display on a gallery wall.
A Duke student views a portrait of him on display at Duke Center of Documentary Studies. The work is part of Lauren Valle’s capstone project, “Unseen Histories: Latinidad in Focus.” Photo: Dhruv Rungta

Bold new documentary work by four Duke seniors and one rising senior is now on view at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies. Developed this spring in the Capstone Seminar in Documentary Studies course, their projects span photography, zine-making, film and oral history, and will be on display through August. 

Guided by self-direction and exploration, the seminar asks students to dig deep into their motivations and choose both the subject matter and medium that interests them most. “The course is meant to replicate the process of being a working artist,” says Chris Sims, director of CDS and professor of the course. “There’s no template or person telling you exactly what to do — each student takes up the challenge of what to focus on and how to move their project and research forward.” 

The results are as varied as they are compelling, with themes ranging from memory and loss, the nuances of everyday life, love and human connection, and the preservation of cultural identity. Each project reflects a personal journey — sometimes extensions of previous work, sometimes starting anew.

The students, who have pursued different majors across schools, will each earn a Certificate in Documentary Studies, one of the signature Duke interdisciplinary offerings.

Capstone Students and Projects

Grace "Gi" Chun ’25, Visual Media Studies with a Certificate in Documentary Studies

“믿음, 소망, 사랑” (“Faith, Hope, Love”)
A zine is opened on a table to brightly colored images, a wedding couple in red and gold ink on the left, and the same couple older on a chat with their daughter in black and yellow ink on the right.
Photo of Grace "Gi" Chun’s zine on display: Carol Bales


“믿음, 소망, 사랑 (Faith, Hope, Love)” is a zine printed on a risograph, processing familial love and grief while looking back on formative experiences across two continents. Chun’s family has a rich archive of photographs and home videos she notes would otherwise remain unseen. “I wanted to challenge myself to be vulnerable, to be seen,” says Chun. “My ideas evolved such that my culminating project in Documentary Studies will reflect this valuable heirloom.”

Chun says this idea has been years in the making, but the “aha” moment came mid-semester. “Memory is not only to be preserved, but also to be challenged, transformed and reborn. Through reinterpreting family artifacts, I continue to recolor my notions of interbeing, divine presence and legacy.”

Ella Davis ’25, Public Policy with a Minor in Political Science and a Certificate in Documentary Studies

“Foster Street”
Photograph of a car side mirror shows a person in a hoodie with a backpack crossing the street.
Photo: Ella Davis

“Foster Street” is series of quiet, observational photographs documenting a single block in Durham. Through repetitive walks, Davis captures the rhythm of daily life and the beauty of the mundane. 

“No single image tells a story, but together, they form a visual diary of one street’s ordinariness,” says Davis, whose work spans a large gallery wall and varies in size and frame. “There’s no thesis here, only attention. A gesture toward the beauty of what doesn’t ask to be seen.”

Jasmin Riley ’26, Psychology with a Minor in Education and a Certificate in Documentary Studies

“Bridging Schools and Communities in North Carolina”
A compilation of photos of community schools coordinators
Image: Jasmin Riley

“Community school coordinators serve as the vital link between students, families and resources,” says Riley, “shaping the educational experience far beyond academics.” 

Through interviews and on-the-ground storytelling, this documentary short film follows community school coordinators who show up every day — not just as educators, but as advocates, problem-solvers and lifelines for their communities. This film captures the dedication of community school coordinators working to make schools more equitable, responsive and community driven.

Harriet Throsby ’25, Visual and Media Studies, Political Science and a Certificate in Documentary Studies

“Continuing the Love Tapes: Unfiltered Voices on Love and Connection”
Black and white film still features a woman looking to the side with a backdrop behind her.
Film still: Harriet Throsby

A short film inspired by Wendy Clarke’s “The Love Tapes,” this project invites participants to speak candidly about love in all its forms. Built through a collaborative filming and editing process, the film is a mosaic of human connection. 

“After hearing Wendy say she wants ‘The Love Tapes’ to continue after she is gone, I felt inspired to do so for my documentary capstone,” says Throsby. “Everyone has something to say on the subject of love and connection. The project is such a simple idea yet very profound I think. I was kind of a guinea pig for her manual for people to recreate them and helped advise on how to edit it to make it easier for others to carry out.”

Lauren Valle ’25, Biology with a Certificate in Documentary Studies

“Unseen Histories: Latinidad in Focus”
A portrait of a Latine leader looking up
Photo: Lauren Valle

“Unseen Histories: Latinidad in Focus” is a photographic and oral history project of collective memory, visibility and community resilience focusing on Latine student leaders at Duke. Through powerful black and white view camera portraits and personal narratives, Valle documents advocacy, community-building, visibility and legacy within the campus community.

“This work is deeply informed by the 1969 Allen Building Takeover, a landmark moment of Black student protest that continues to reverberate across campus,” says Valle. “My previous research into this event, and the ways it is remembered and archived, inspired this project’s emphasis on documentation as a form of resistance. By memorializing the voices and visions of today’s Latine students, this project hopes to inspire future ones to keep building, questioning and organizing.” 

A Home for Young Artists

These five emerging documentary artists demonstrate the power of personal storytelling to illuminate societal themes and ignite dialogue. Their work is part of a larger exhibition of student documentary artwork from an array of documentary studies courses that opened on April 24, 2025, as part of the CDS Spring Celebration. Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members engaged with them and their work while also having the opportunity to experience live music, local food and film screenings. 

“The vibe of celebration was so positive and enveloping,” says Sims. “CDS is a home for students and young artists to be celebrated in the same way as more established artists that exhibit here, giving them either the momentum or affirmation that helps them continue on their way.”

Scroll below to see additional photos from the senior exhibitions and the CDS Spring Celebration.