Dulce Photography

Slightly funny story. Sunday morning I woke up, and my eyes hurt. In hindsight, it was probably just my right eye, but I was so tired that it seemed like both of my eyes were hurting, so I rolled back over and snoozed a bit more. When I woke up a second time, my eye was still hurting. My right eye. Hurting. A lot. Ouch. (When I’m just waking up I don’t think in full sentences.) It felt swollen and sore, and it didn’t want to open all the way. I jumped out of bed and ran to the mirror. My left eye was looking good, but my right eye… well, its pathetic attempts to open all the way revealed  exactly what I was praying it wouldn’t: totally bloodshot. All I could think to myself was You have GOT to be joking! I WOULD get pink eye the day before my show!! I don’t remember ever having pink eye before, so it seemed slightly ironic that it hit me the day before such a monumental event in my college career. Fortunately, after calling my mom in a panic (because it was Sunday, and the nurses office was closed and I didn’t know what to do), she was able to have a doctor from our church call in a prescription to the Walmart in Marion. Mom saves the day for the millionth and one time in my life! And thankfully, by the time my show started Monday afternoon, the swelling and redness had decreased significantly and I was able to hide the last traces with some Visine eye drops and makeup. No harm done. Now all I have to say is, as long as I don’t get pink eye the day before my wedding, I’ll be a happy camper.

Ok. Onto the reason you’re actually reading this post. My show! It’s done!! All of that stress is gone!!! And the opening was fabulous :) It was slightly nerve wracking, actually, to have my work studied and critiqued by everyone walking by, and not having any idea what they were thinking. It makes you feel a little raw. But the love and support from my parents and my friends disintegrated any fears I had. I just wish I could do it over again! Maybe, in a few years, I’ll submit more work to a juried art exhibit. Maybe…

I’ll start with pictures of the food. (Did you really expect anything less from me?) All the opening receptions supply food for the fellow artists and viewers, and let me tell you, my group went big!

This is THE best salsa in the entire world. I would give you the recipe but then I’d have to kill you. ;)

Crackers and cheese, veggies and dip…

Delicious flavored water!

And of course, dessert. Lots of amazing dessert!

Go big or go home, right?

And here was my podium. I had my business cards, my artist’s statement, a journal for signing, the camera I used for the project, and some uh-may-zing flowers…

You see, Jake wasn’t able to make it out for my show. His work schedule wouldn’t allow him to take that time off from his training. I totally understood and I didn’t blame him for not being able to come, but it still made me really sad. So when I checked my mail that morning and found a huge bouquet of gorgeous roses waiting for me, it definitely eased the pain! Yes folks, he spoils me, I know :)

My mom told me I had to get a picture with the flowers. Everyone, this is proof that I am awkward and I should stay behind the camera…

And finally, here it is. The big kahuna. The last shebang. The final hurrah. My show!!

Artist’s Statement:

We live in an over-saturated world. A world where we are constantly bombarded with flashy imagery and bright words, all vying for our attention. The media pounces on the fact that we are visual beings, constantly pressuring us to live up to the standards they provide. Whether it be about the latest cell-phone, the newest styles and clothing, or even our personal relationships and activities, the media is there, silently yet overwhelmingly impacting the decisions we make.

All of the film pictures you see here were taken by a Pop 9 lomography camera, which takes 9 pictures in every frame. The subjects were not difficult to come by. In fact, all I had to do was walk out my door. From the people on the sidewalk to the magazines in the local grocery store, these images are part of our daily lives—even if we don’t want to acknowledge it. That being said, the question should not be whether or not we admit these pressures exist. Rather, we should ask ourselves, how much will we let them affect us?

Sex and Alcohol:

Fashion and Self-Image:

Cellphones and Technology:

Each piece is 2′x4′ on canvas, mounted onto birch plywood. Here are some detail shots.

Here is a shot of me and my work, so you can kinda get an idea of the scale. Once again with the awkward stance…

I’ll end with a shot of my parents and I, because it makes me happy.

A biiiiiiig thank you to everyone who has supported me through this process!! It was a LOT of work, but well worth it! If you have any questions about my concept or how I produced any of it, don’t hesitate to ask! I’d be more than happy explain my thought and work process.

P.S. If you’re wondering what that first picture at the top is, it was the postcard my group made. There were three groups of senior shows this semester, and each group names their show and makes a postcard to invite people.  And if you’re  curious as to which feet are mine, let me stop you from wasting your time because, yeah, the day they took the picture? Just so happened to be the day that I missed my flight back to school. My roommate was kind enough to model her feet in my place. But yeah. My feet aren’t in there. Ok that’s all. :)