Fragments…………………………………………...Kerry Sullivan
Burlap Sacked…………………………………Bernadette Lehel
Unconditional…………………………………...….Isabella Lobo
Assimilation Sleepover………………….…Nyanjah Charles
engulf………………………………………………...…Colin Klavins
growth…………………………………………....…..Kerry Sullivan
Mind's World…………………………….…..….Brisny Munguia
Wash Day…………………………………….…..Nyanjah Charles
Cloaked………………………………………..….Akilah Mckinnon
Self Portrait………………………………………….…Casey Davis
Unidad……………………………………………….Kiara Martinez
A Race With Race…………………………….….Hanna Masudi
Consumed……………………………….……..Syreeta Ferguson
Counting Sheep…………………….……….……..Sadie Hickam
An act of god…………………………………….…Maysen Baxter
Little flames……………………………………….……..Ella Perras
Wildfire……………………………………….…….Phoenix Medley
fresh air……………………………………………….…..Anna Miller
Insomniac…………………………………………....Jenna Godsey
Screened……………………………………………..Jenna Godsey
Utopia………………………………………....Jaden Monteagudo
Pink Shirt……………………………………………..Sadie Hickam
A Casa de Vovo………………….…Naama Gomes-Sammah
Past Graduation………………………...……Melissa Cordero
Trapped………………………………………..………..Jaiden Brick
Auntie’s Lounge………………………………………..Mara Popa
First Blush………………………………………....Maia Derrevere
dioxazine melts sunny girls……………...London Sanford
My Little Aliens…………………..Simone (Moe) Spanbroek
Take 'Em……………………….….…Simone (Moe) Spanbroek
Cole………………………………………….……….…….Rory Porter
Cultural Elders………………………….……..Sophia Milcheva
Everything You Could Ever Want………..…...Riley Flynn
funerals in sticky pensacola…………….……...Sarah Sams
Lizard Trauma……………………………………..…Mia Chiocca
Robespierre and Book…………………...Blythe Armstrong
Calypso…………………………………………………...Anna Miller
The Musician and the Writer…………………...Riley Flynn
little clown boy………………………………….Madeline Rielly
Stitches……………………………………………Hanaan Noorani
Struggle of the Concrete Jungle…………..Nicholas Stan
New_Vintage……………………………………….Nicholas Stan
Dust Machine……………………………………………....Tina Mei
Oh, Talia………………………………………..…Phoenix Medley
VII IV MMXIX…………………………………….Marisa Martino
Depths Unseen……………………………….Maxwell Popovic
Into The Woods……………………………...Arianna Sanchez
summer’s rain/quiet rain/morning rain…Olivia Siller
the alps…………………………………………...……..Olivia Siller
The Window…………………………………..…..Kendall Smith
Overcast Fieldside………………………….……Emily Wilson
The Chase……………………………………..…...Jazmyn Oliver
Red Rubies……………………………………......Yelaine Aguilar
the joke isn’t funny anymore……………Anthony Bryant
Table Of Contents
What inspired this photo?
“The photo was inspired by my own experience as a man. I feel a disconnect between my masculinity and my femininity, and the photo is about the balance between the two or lack thereof. It’s an internal issue as (I have) a problem with expressing myself.”
How do you want your photo to impact viewers?
“I wanted viewers to resonate with my piece, especially young men and people (who) feel that they're forced to express themselves a certain way and the confusion that comes with it. I wanted people to be able to see that they're not the only ones feeling like that.”
What does each element of the photo symbolize?
“I wouldn't say that boxing gloves and flowers have deep meanings within themselves. I relied on stereotypes to be able to convey my message that men are expected to be fighters—to be tough—and women are expected to be delicate and gentle, like flowers. I wanted to (use) those two stereotypes to show that contrast within myself. In the video (version) of this piece, eventually, the model starts sinking in the ocean. The ocean was meant to represent the confusion of ‘I don't know who I am. I don't know who I need to be’ and the feeling of sinking down into that confusion.”
Why did you choose photography instead of other mediums?
“I thought that (photography) would be the most efficient way of capturing my ideas. I'm the most proficient with photography, and I'm used to using items in my photos as symbols. But, if we're talking about the piece overall, there is a video aspect. I used video to show that sinking feeling, something that I couldn't do with photography.”
What does your artistic process look like?
“Usually, I'll come up with the ideas for my pieces when I'm doing something boring or mundane. I'll be taking a shower and then an idea will come to me. As soon as I'm done with that, I'll take my sketchbook and I'll do a rough, stick figure (sketch) of my photo. It will be a person, where the camera is going to be, what the perspective will look like, what they'll be wearing, or what they'll have with them. I’ll go scouting and figure out exactly where I want to shoot it. Then, I get all the materials that are required, (including) models, and take the photos.”
COVER ARTIST Colin Klavins
Was the theme inspired by a specific moment in your life?
“My portfolio concentration wasn't necessarily only the split between masculinity and femininity. I felt that split with a lot of things. I felt a split between the person who I was at home and the person I was at school. At school, I was more timid and stereotypically feminine, and, at home, I was louder and stereotypically masculine. I realized this when a person called me my friend’s ‘dog.’ At first, it didn't hit me. I wouldn't say it was a huge deal, but I was on my way home and thinking about it, and it really upset me that that’s how some people view me. (They thought) I was mindlessly obedient, that I was someone (who) didn't get respect.”
How would you describe your art style?
“I would describe my art style as absurd. I want all my photos to have a sense of mystery or confusion. I want people to have questions about my piece so that I can explain them, or for them to come up with their own meanings for my pieces and share them with me. I love when people have different interpretations than I do.”
What does the word “art” mean to you?
“I would say the word art in general means a lot to me. It's a way for me to express myself and share ideas with people, which I've had trouble doing in the past. It's a way for me to put myself out there. I don't know where I'd be without art, and I want to do it for the rest of my life.”