My Last Day at Seventeen

Doug DuBois (born 1960) was first introduced to a group of teenagers from the Russell Heights housing estate while he was an artist-in-residence in Cobh, on the southwest coast of Ireland. He was fascinated by the insular neighborhood, in which everyone seems to be someone’s cousin, former girlfriend, or spouse. DuBois gained entry when two participants of a workshop he taught took him to a local hangout spot, opening his eyes to a world of not-quite-adults, struggling through the last days of their childhood. Over the course of five years, DuBois returned to Russell Heights. Combining portraits, spontaneous encounters and collaborative performances, the images in Doug DuBois: My Last Day at Seventeen hover between documentary and fiction. A follow-up to DuBois’ acclaimed first book, All the Days and Nights, this volume examines the uncertainties of growing up in Ireland today while highlighting the unique relationship between artist and subject.