Something is Happening Exhibition

Arranging an exhibition, allows one to see a work or body of work in a new context. A photo that has become familiar by being observed on a screen countless times, and in conjunction with many similar photos appears very different when singled out, framed against a white wall and arranged next to the work of others. The title "Something is Happening" for the show is based on the Bob Dylan song Ballad of a Thin Man. As much as I love Dylan, I don't think that the phrase "Something is Happening" is a fitting description for the body of work. Our assignment for our photo set was to address the obliviousness of the general public to a significant change in our environment and to critique our surroundings. Dylan's understanding of change is way different than many of our critiques in the Lawrence environment and I don't think the title really gets the point of environmental critique across. 

Setting up the exhibition was a good experience because it allowed me to see my work in a professional setting and be in the position of showing my work to others I am not close to. There were moments that I felt slightly awkward at the opening when I was in the room with several other visitors and, feeling obligated to be present in the room, wasn’t sure if I should re-look at the work of my peers or “entertain” the visitors. Nothing surprised me about the process of setting up for the gallery show since I have done several small class shows like this before. The curation of the show inspired me to think about how whimsically I would set up a gallery room if I had it for my work alone. 

Rob Neilson examining my photo "Replacer"

Spandex and Protein

For my book layout, I place photos of packaged health food products next to photos of questionable exercise conduct. On each two page spread I pair together photos based on composition, color, line, and shapes involved. The photos of the model are arranged so that there is variation in their order in the book. The photos of the food packaging bring text and force the reader to make connections between the images they are next to. There is no metaphorical intention to the pairings or relationship between the text on the labels but the viewer might think this.

Photos of vegan/ glutton-free/ organic/ free-range/ GMO-free/ 10-grain products was one of my original ideas for the photo project but I hadn't considered combining it with the "Gym Culture" photos until I began the layout of my photo book. It was challenging to create rhythm,  balance and variation with the same model in the same location in every photo.

In "Transforming Destiny into Awareness: The Americans", Greeough states "Frank's comments suggest that he had no preconceived ideas about what each section of the book should address and instead let their focus grow out of the act of linking the photos together" and that "the very subtlety of his sequencing, coupled with the opaque nature of many of the photographs themselves, leaves the book open to various interpretations". In both of these aspects, I was inspired by Frank's methodology in designing my book layout. I allowed ideas to grow out of my experimentation with placement of photos and I would like my vague visual commentary to be open to interpretation.