Uplift
Gallery view featuring " Hip Hop Girl " series
Uplift
Bing Arts Center
March 18 to June 10, 2017
The title refers to the support and camaraderie I saw between the performers I photographed in Cambodia. It is also about the aspirations of the individuals, the organizations, and a country whose artistic and cultural practices appear to be moving forward while still acknowledging its turbulent past.
Receiving a global Educator's Grant from Wilbraham & Monson Academy in 2016, I visited Cambodia to photograph performing artists. I focused on organizations that implement expressive arts as a means of creating hope, an education, and a potential livelihood. At-risk youths, persons with disabilities, and youths from difficult social and economic backgrounds are the subjects of my photography.
The show is divided in two parts, the first of which expresses a more camera-based approach to creating final images. This is more documentary, where I attempt to reveal the feelings, attitudes, and interactions of performers in rehearsals as they prepare for the audiences.
The second part uses photography as a starting point, and is intended to explore this imagery with reference to traditional painting and drawing. As a visual artist, I directly interact with the images as digital prints, hand-drawn, or painted imagery. In these I attempt to connect with the energy and motion of the dancers.
Included in my exhibit are performers/students from four organizations I met with while in Cambodia: Tiny Toones, Epic Arts, and Phare Circus. I would like to thank these organizations and individuals who allowed me to spend time observing their art. I would also like to thank Wilbraham & Monson Academy for giving me the opportunity to create and develop this ongoing project. Thanks to Brian Hale of the Bing Arts Center for giving me the space and time to share this body of work.
Ongoing--Profits from the sale go to epic arts. http://epicarts.org.uk
Uplift
Bing Arts Center
March 18 to June 10, 2017
The title refers to the support and camaraderie I saw between the performers I photographed in Cambodia. It is also about the aspirations of the individuals, the organizations, and a country whose artistic and cultural practices appear to be moving forward while still acknowledging its turbulent past.
Receiving a global Educator's Grant from Wilbraham & Monson Academy in 2016, I visited Cambodia to photograph performing artists. I focused on organizations that implement expressive arts as a means of creating hope, an education, and a potential livelihood. At-risk youths, persons with disabilities, and youths from difficult social and economic backgrounds are the subjects of my photography.
The show is divided in two parts, the first of which expresses a more camera-based approach to creating final images. This is more documentary, where I attempt to reveal the feelings, attitudes, and interactions of performers in rehearsals as they prepare for the audiences.
The second part uses photography as a starting point, and is intended to explore this imagery with reference to traditional painting and drawing. As a visual artist, I directly interact with the images as digital prints, hand-drawn, or painted imagery. In these I attempt to connect with the energy and motion of the dancers.
Included in my exhibit are performers/students from four organizations I met with while in Cambodia: Tiny Toones, Epic Arts, and Phare Circus. I would like to thank these organizations and individuals who allowed me to spend time observing their art. I would also like to thank Wilbraham & Monson Academy for giving me the opportunity to create and develop this ongoing project. Thanks to Brian Hale of the Bing Arts Center for giving me the space and time to share this body of work.
Ongoing--Profits from the sale go to epic arts. http://epicarts.org.uk