The shadow boxes, large screen print and fiber print photographs below, are the final pieces that were presented for my senior thesis show. Part of a group, self titled as "________ in eight movement," put us 8 ladies in a show to present our work as a whole. It was difficult to divide up the space appropriately and make a comfortable flow. By the end result, through long hours and time spent measuring, nailing and hanging, we finally pulled a solid show floor out. As the doors opened and the flood of people came in, any minor changes left to be debated on, disappeared. The weight lifted, there was nothing left to adjust, touch-up or change now, we were ready.
As I reviewed my work later with my closest friend, he began to point out some of the visual clues that really brought the message home for these pieces.The stark contrast between the black and white forced your attention to the subject matter at hand.
Looking into the photographic screen prints, a family of three is depicted while evidence of the photographer remains absent. These small moments captured in the shadow boxes express the faces showing levels of happiness, sadness and distress. The red thread used, is seen stabbing through the subjects inside these shadow boxes, through the faces, connecting and disrupting their presence and togetherness.
In contrast to the turmoil felt in the triptych connecting the youths and the mother, the two youngins are printed again in large format. The red thread, does not disrupt this image inside of the figures, only surrounding them, this pair; the team.
Across the room facing the duo hang three traditional fiber prints. Devoid of any human disruption, the images focus on stark lighting, illuminating the familiar in an unfamiliar fashion. By using high contrast, manipulation of the scene brings the image to your mind as if it were a recall, a memory of your own. Holding onto a nostalgic feel in which can connect to the outside viewer, as well as the artist and the art in itself as it hangs together.
The boxes, screen print and fiber prints, speak to each other in their moments of bleak and still silence as well as shouting out in resonate imagery.
