University of South Carolina Libraries
THEY SAID IT “A photograph is a secret about a secret. The more it tells you the less you know.” DIANE ARBUS PHOTOGRAPHER USC art students mix artistic visions, themes in photography exhibit By JENNIFER FREEMAN THE MIX EDITOR Eleven advanced-photography students will display some of their work beginning tonight in an exhibit titled “Trace, Remnant, Vestige,” at Columbia’s Bus Stop Gallery. (fc “The idea behind it is what is left behind. To show how things get left behind and to show the reminder of what was there — the remnant,” said Kristin Burrows, a fifth-year art studio student. Jennifer Bodiford, John Carlos, Tara Fennell, Morgan Ford, Jonathan Goley, Matt Hubbard, Laura Jennings, Stephen Leitzsey, Silvie Martinez and Jacqueline O’Neill will join Burrows in displaying their work. The students said they first chose the title and theme of the exhibit, and then they went and ^ took their photographs. “I think a lot of people already had ideas of what they wanted to do. I mean, the title is so broad. A remnant can be a picture of anything,” said Ford, a third-year art studio student. This exhibit will be a mixture of traditional silver prints and digital images, the artists said. There will also be a variety of color and black and-white shots. ^ Burrows, whose series is titled, j ‘What is Left Behind,” includes a selection of black-and-white pictures displaying such images as cow skulls and Ground Zero in Manhattan. Most of the students have a series of works they are displaying with a related theme. Some of the titles include “American Icons,” “ Unplugged” and “Revelations of the Abandoned Places.” The “Revelations” series was photographed by Carlos, a fifth year art studio student, and he says it was originally inspired by a passage from Luke in the New Testament: “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” “I read the Bible pretty regularly. I try to look at my work with a higher purpose, sort of like how people read the Bible with a higher purpose. What that passage meant to me is that everything is God’s. 1 look at them and I see God taking these places back,” Carlos said. Carlos’ series of pictures show destroyed or dead places with new things coming through. ‘When God destroys it, he will make something new. Where there used to be things, there is now new life,” Carlos said. The exhibit has been planned and organized by the Advanced Photography Two (ARTS 461) class, taught by Kathleen Robbins. “The whole class had to decide where we wanted to do the show. We looked at a lot of different places, and we chose this alternative gallery,” Ford said. Rather than having the , display in the j McMaster Gallery, the class decide^ to hold the exhibit in the more intimate setting of the Bus “I like that it’s away from USC. We re still students, but we have a more independent status,” Burrows said. Having it here gives us more creative control,” said Martinez, a fifth-year art studio student. As students in the Advanced Photography Two course, the class has been together since last year. “Last semester led into this one. This isn’t the same work we did last year, but it got us used to working on large projects,” Ford said. This is not a traditional art sale, but rather a chance for USC art ! student^ to share their semester’s “I try to look at my work with a higher purpose, sort of like how people read the Bible with a higher purpose ... everything is God’s. I look at them and I see God taking these places back.” JOHN A. CARLOS II FIFTH-YEAR ART STUDIO STUDENT work with the public, the photographers said. “It’s just a chance for people to come see the art. We’ll be here on opening night, so people can come talk to us,” Ford said. While pieces are for sale, the photographers decide the prices. The exhibit’s opening reception, which includes refreshments, will take place tonight from 6-8 p.m. The Bus Hop Gallery is located at 2711 Vlillwood Ave. The exhibit will be open to the public and will run tntil April 21. Comments on this story? E-mail \amecockfeatures@gwmsc. edu IF YOU’RE GOING WHAT: “Trace, Remnant, Vestige" Photography Exhibit WHERE: Bus Stop Gallery, 2711 Millwood Ave. WHEN: 6 p.m. Tonight From top to bottom, Jennifer Bodiford’s photograph of a broken TV is part of a series called, "Unplugged.” Kristin Burrows, Tara Fennell and Silvie Martinez hang their work in preparation for tonight’s show. The skull is titled, “What is Left Behind #3.” The photograph of the doll is from a ;eries called, "American Icons.”