MSU Student Show: Photo Work

Last Friday was MSU's annual Juried Student Exhibition. It was again this year a frenzied week of framing, finishing work, and for a few, starting, finishing, and framing the work all within a matter of days. This year's juror, Jim Park from Minnesota State Moorhead, had to pick through a record number of entries and some very good work.

I am thankful that a good number of my photo students not only were jurored in, but received awards as well. I am proud of them and their hard work has paid off.

On Thursday, my alternative process photo students turned in a salt print portfolio conceptually focused on the human body. I was so excited by the quality of work presented and the risks taken. Students are busy...unbelievable so compared to my time in college. I encouraged, urged, coaxed, cajoled them into entering their fine work in spite of the short deadline. They came through!

I've been encouraging them to consider the photographic object through this course exploring installation and printing on alternative substrates rather than simply creating a beautiful cyanotype or whatever processed image. Several have moved in that direction...good preparation for their final.

In addition to the usual awards presented by the gallery, Karina and I have sponsored a photo award selected by that years juror. This year, the piece chosen was an altered photograph of many faces, cut into slips, and re-arranged to considerable effect pursuing the idea of biological chances in ones development. Each strip represents something like 100,000 to one that you exist. Nice concept, nice execution.

Enjoy the images below.

Image:
1,2  Chicago Triptych, Cyanotype on Masa with alternative hanging
3-6  Cyanotype on Silks with alternative hanging
7     Salt Print on Masa, mounted as a folio
8     Salt Print on Arches Platine
9     Salt Print on Rives BFK Tan
10-11  Salt Print on Arches Platine
12-13  Digital Print mounted on wood panel
14-15  Digital Prints
16-18  Altered Digital Prints

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