“Art has the power to inspire, to spark conversation, and to bring joy — showcasing these images in public areas where Afghans can enjoy art for art’s sake, and be proud of the beauty and spirit of their country.”
—Shannon Galpin, founder of Mountain2Mountain

The fruit of years of collaborative work between Afghan and Western photographers and photojournalists, Streets of Afghanistan chronicles one of the most captivating efforts to connect communities and cultures through our common humanity and the power of art. A collection of the spectacular photography of the Mountain2Mountain (M2M) project Streets of Afghanistan is a striking combination of art and activism that is sure to change your entire perspective on the Afghan culture.

Complete with short descriptions that allow the reader to follow the footsteps of the M2M project as they explored the hidden beauties of this faraway land, Streets of Afghanistan is a visually striking hardcover book with full-color photographs that feature the wonderful vistas of Afghanistan and introduce readers to its people. Looking at the photographs, it is easy to immerse yourself in a culture which was previously unknown to many Western audiences.

Streets of Afghanistan is more than just a photo collection; it is an opportunity to expand your horizons and learn about people and culture across the world.

About the Authors

Shannon Galpin founded Mountain2Mountain in November 2006 to empower women and girls in conflict zones. Believing that the apathy was one of the key barriers to change, Shannon has spent the past five years working in Afghanistan on a variety of projects that focus on education, art, and sport as a way to focus on the power of voice and activism. Shannon was recently chosen as a 2013 National Geographic Adventurer of the Year for her work. Her first TEDx talk was in 2012 about the Power of Voice which illustrates the thread that links all of her work together and which serves as the backbone for Mountain2Mountain’s mission.

Libero di Zinno, professor at the Art Center College of Design and Los Angeles based photographer/documentary filmmaker, has been an advisory board member at large for Mountain2Mountain since early 2008. His images have appeared in several Mountain2Mountain exhibitions. His book projects include Ultramarathon Man and For the Love of the Game. His work has also been featured in Outside Magazine, Men’s Journal, and ESPN.

For the past five years, Mountain2Mountain‘s work has been focused in Afghanistan. Through the belief in connecting communities and cultures and the power of voice, M2M has launched projects across Afghanistan to create opportunities that were unimaginable ten years ago in education, art, sports, and activism. M2M works beyond sticks-and-bricks style projects to work in unique ways to inspire, challenge stereotypes, and combat apathy. In 2013, M2M launched its first domestic program, Strength in Numbers, in the United States to target young women who have survived gender violence here at home, while continuing to work with women and girls in Afghanistan for years to come. Learn more and follow the journey at www.mountain2mountain.org.

STREETS OF AFGHANISTAN
Written by Shannon Galpin
Photographed by Libero Di Zinno
978-1-57826-467-4, $40.00 hardcover

New from Hatherleigh Press. Distributed through Random House. Available wherever books are sold.