On view: April 13th-21st, 2023
Reception: Friday, April 14th, 4:30pm
Artist Statement:
“If we were meant to stay in one place, we’d have roots instead of feet.” ~Rachel WolchinEver
Since I was six years old, my family has taken a yearly trip to a different country. We wouldn’t do guided tours or get a private driver; instead we would rent a car and find the most secluded places. We’d have a general itinerary, but sometimes we’d just drive around to find places most tourists would never venture to. This made it a very personal and private experience of looking into history, peering into the life of someone long ago, and making memories of a place so foreign to us. Starting at a young age, I got a camera and would photograph moments that were important to me, memories that I didn’t want to forget. I would photograph the small, inconspicuous moments that others might not see in a place – moments that I felt held a story of someone there before me. To me, memories of a life well-lived are some of the best things a person can own, and trying to visualize that feeling I have to others, as well as stabilizing the memory through photography, is where my art comes from.
Hometown?
Baltimore, MD
Major/Minor?
Studio Art major
What is your primary medium?
I’ve used a wide range of media these past two semesters, but right now I’d say my primary medium is string and embroidery, with drawn aspects as well.
What does the title of your show mean?
The title of my show is Little One, which has a few different meanings. Firstly, it is the nickname my mom called me growing up (and even still now at times), since I am the youngest child. It also lends itself to the little moments that I create, as my work is very small, as well as the little moments I’ve enjoyed capturing in my photographs. Thirdly, it shows that in this big world, where everything you do or don’t do has implications and consequences, and out of all 8 billion people on this planet, I’m simply just me, and I’m the only person who I have the capacity to truly understand in this world.
How did you start with your project? What are your inspirations?
My inspiration started with my love of travel. Every summer since I was 6 years old, my family would go on a trip to at least one new country. I found a love of exploration and photographing my memories. As I’ve looked into my own photo archive, I’ve also explored my mother’s photo archive of these trips, and looking at my younger self has created a sense of dissonance within me; comparing my own memories of the trips, to the photographs I had taken, to the photographs my mom took of me, has created almost a one-sided conversation between my present self and my younger self, with the only replies from my younger self lying within those photos from and of me.
How will art and the process of art making continue to play a role in your life after graduation?
As of right now, my post-graduation plans are still very up in the air. I do know that I am definitely not cut out for a 9-5 office job; my passions have always been for the unconventional and creative, so as long as I keep my passion for art at the forefront, I’m sure I will find a career and life with art.
