Behind the Form by Ronni Knepp
For the past year I have been working on a project called “Objectified Form” where I created nude images but removed any sexual interpretations in order to defy the male gaze and take control back over how my body is viewed. I realized, however, in the making of the images that I had to pose in fairly seductive poses with a spotlight to accentuate the form of the body. The images, unedited, started to show me an entirely different side of myself that I never considered; a side that is sexual and beautiful with all of the curves and everything. I started creating the images just to see what other types of photos I could capture to see myself in this very different point of view. Ideally the harsh highlights would be unwanted, but when used purposefully, I started to see myself as glowing. The mini-series of the “behind the scenes” images has started to create a life of its own now in which I still maintain the control of how my body is seen by the audience, but now the images are seductive and sensual, something that “Objectified Form” aimed to remove.
"Identity" by Cecilie Oedegaard
I believe identity of self is fluid. Social context, culture and personal relationships are all factors that play a major role affecting how and what parts of our personalities are being expressed.
This body of work consisting of three diptychs strive to convey identity as a fluid concept that is highly influenced by our surroundings. By pairing images of self with images of nature or environment I intend to illustrate this idea.
Noah Purifoy by Kailey LaValliere
This mini series is an examination of the identity of Noah Purifoy. Purifoy was a sculptor known for large scale pieces created entirely out of found objects, or junk. Although Purifoy is no longer living, his art remains standing on his land in Joshua Tree, CA, which is run by the Noah Purifoy foundation. This is the only information I knew about Purifoy before visiting the sight. As I wandered around his land, I pictured him creating these pieces and was constantly wondering, "Why?" What was his purpose with each piece? What do the pieces say about Purifoy? After taking these photographs, I researched the pieces I had photographed along with Purifory himself. He was born in 1917 in Alabama to sharecroppers. Purifoy was an activist through his adult life and faced adversity as a black man in America during the 1950s and 60s.
After looking up the sculptures, I discovered that each sculpture has a name, which better helped me understand Purifoy's identity. Purifoy's background included working as a social worker in L.A., early in his career. He created Shelter as he reflection of his work as a social worker. Purifoy worked in conjunction with the harsh nature of the desert, recognizing how the sun, wind and heat effect his art. I think that his realization is also a reflection of himself. He moved to the desert in his 70s because he wanted to retire, but could not afford life in L.A.. Just as he aged and deteriorated, so did his sculptures. Purifoy's work is a direct reflection of his life and his experiences as a black man in America.
Identity by Quiana Jackson
I have always been curious as to how the members of my own family see themselves. We tend to go about life individually only stopping to partake on each others dreams, ambitions and inspirations. As a mother and a wife it has always been my responsibility to support the ones I love either being second to the military, a cheerleader for my son or a "model" for my makeup artist daughter. I am often asked about my husband's absence as he is never home courtesy of the US Army. I am asked about my son the basketball star or if my daughter has ever thought about investing in her future as a makeup artist by sending her to New York to make a name for herself. Each question has lead to me the conclusion that the things they love has become their identity and somehow has engulfed me as a part of it. When I am seen I am a visual remembrance of my family. Their identity has become my identity. I am known as the military spouse instead of Quiana. The team's head mom instead of Quiana and the "lucky" parent to a daughter that does my makeup. Since I love them, I will sacrifice my identity until I can give the world notification that I have an identity of my own.
Identity: Insomnia by Shannon Polugar
I'm up late, out late, and normally the cat is in bed well before I am. It is not deliberate, but a symptom of insomnia, which plays a big role in my self identity. I'm always moving, and after too long things seem in a haze. This mini-series is viewed as a triptych to better emphasize the contrasts in how insomnia effects me. The first image it is dark of night, but with vivid color. The second is bright and welcoming, but still I can't slow down. The third is almost a malaise, wanting sleep, but the haze in my mind of being awake so long keeps me from seeing it through.
We all can't look like James Franco, can we? by Brian Edwards
This series was was actually inspired by a recent perusal of photographer Dan Winters website. As you all know, he has shot many celebrities, including actor, athletes, and other VIPs and as much as I thoroughly enjoy his work and looking through his site, I was also struck by how much my own perception of myself is often contextualized in terms of other men and often these men are actors or other celebrities (sports figures, etc.) that often fit stereotypes of what men should look like, how they should dress, and behave, etc. I may have had something loosely resembling a six-pack in high school, but that was after playing football, baseball, and taking weight training during my last two years. In any case, I decided to explore male identity in terms of how we compare to those we often look up to. The very first picture is sort of a baseline; it's just me wearing a blue t-shirt. The next six images alternative between Dan Winter images of Tom Hanks, James Franco, and Morgan Freeman and self-portraits that very loosely were taken to resemble the posing and lighting that San Winters used in his portraits of these celebrities.
Identities by Claudio Mortenson
What defines one's identity? What makes us what we are? What tell others who we are? My project "Identities" explores one of the many aspects of human identity: The signs of presence.
Each one's identity is sculpted from the very inside of our personalities, shaped and polished over years till it gets to the surface and overflows to the spaces surrounding us.
I have been always fascinated by the elements and clues that leads to peoples identity. Books in a shelf, pictures over ones table, small objects that give way something about the person that chose to own that thing. Some of this things become so special to the point of becoming a symbol of one's identity.
My pictures here, explore this connection between objects and a persons identity, employing different approaches to isolate and expose this objects to the viewers appreciation.
Identity by Jiheng Yan
For the midterm, I created a mini body of work of three photographs of me without glasses. It has always been a question since I find out I'm nearsighted and I have to wear glasses to get to look at the things clearly. Fifteen years have passed, I have never got a chance to look at myself without wearing that object which is not a part of my body. In this August, I went to an ophthalmologist to get my first pair of contact glasses. For the first time, I can look into the mirror to see my appearance. In the mirror, that 'stranger' is looking at me. He is making every move I make but in a mirrored way. That experience makes me feel extraordinary. In this three photos, I would like to show the experience that I had. I choose to take self-portraits to simulate it. Two of them are two sides of my face, the sunburn near my temples are indicating the fact that I have been wearing glasses for a long time. And the second photo is trying to show how I feel when I have the first look at myself after 15 years of wearing glasses.
Being Me by Dianne Morton
As a child, I found deep solitude hiding in my bedroom while quietly reading books.
Eternally a rule follower, I learned at a tender age that following strict guidelines was never enough.
Matters and consequences.
As a fine artist, I convey memories of a troubled childhood through my photographic imagery.
Delving deeply within aloneness, I have discovered grace...and a beautiful journey.
