Memphis university student exhibition catalogue

s u m m e r 12

photography exhibition

UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS

UN I V E RS I T Y O F ME M P HI S SU M M E R 2 0 12

The integration between the Renaissance philosophy of creative, progressive innovation and our 21st century art practices are at the crux of this exhibition. The students in this class were charged with drawing inspiration from the art and architecture of Renaissance-era Florence and then re-interpreting what they saw into a contemporar y vision utilizing High Dynamic Range digital imaging and digital panoramic stitching techniques. The d i g i t a l r e - i n t e r p r e t a t i o n s a r e n o t m e a n t t o b e l i t e r a l , l i n e a r t r a n s l a t i o n s o f t h e o r i g i n a l s o u r c e . R a t h e r, t h e y a r e personal reflections and internalizations of what Michelangelo, Brunelleschi, Botticelli, or Galileo must have felt w h e n t h e y p o n d e r e d “ w h a t i f ? ” F r e e d f r o m c o n s t r a i n t s , t h e c r e a t i v e m i n d m u s t w a n d e r, a n d t h e a c t o f w a n d e r i n g necessarily leads to discover y. Michelangelo said, “A man paints with his brains, not with his hands.” If anything, t h e R e n a i s s a n c e p r o v e d t o u s t h a t t h e i n t e l l e c t i s t h e e n g i n e o f d i s c o v e r y. We w o r k a s a r t i s t s , n o t b e c a u s e w e choose to do so, but because we can do nothing else. Through exploring our artistic past, embracing our creative present, we move, eagerly into the future.

Introduction

F l o r e n c e i s a c i t y w i t h h i s t o r y b u i l t i n t o i t . I t i s i n t e g r a t e d into the architecture, the art, the food, and the culture. It has a tangible presence you can feel when you walk around the city. This feeling resonates with me in the idea of layers and people. The people here are innately tied to a past that exists in their present lives and h o m e s . Yo u c a n ’ t s e e i t b u t t h e r e i s a r e p e t i t i o n o f thoughts and actions that, over time, creates a beautiful, cyclical patchwork.

I find the numerous marble figures in Florence to be the most compelling Renaissance art. Their body language and expressions tell so much and are very different from what we see in contemporary art because they were made for a different purpose, maybe a more true one. I used them to inspire the poses and allowed the city to p r o v i d e t h e i r c o m p l e m e n t a r y p a i r i n g , w h i c h t o g e t h e r, translate my own interpretation of the Florentine experience.

Amillia Stembridge

a r e i n r e a l i t y, b u t a s t h e y a p p e a r a t t h a t v e r y m o m e n t .

some art imitates the appearance of things, not as they

others, and as im lost in their perspective, i find that

of, i am forced to view things from the perspective of

is why i do what it is that i do. sometimes in the process

person will see something different.'' This very difference

people the same picture and its guaranteed that each

Being an artist, i hear quite often, ''you can show several

Danterrio Dansberry

of

these

very

intimate

moments.

These

e x p e r i e n c e s w h i l e i n I t a l y.

pieces in juxtaposition against my personal ephemeral

exploration by pairing these seemingly timeless Italian

moments resurface within my work through conceptual

memories

its culture. As I am preparing to leave, I am left with only

of Italy have radically shifted after being submersed within

t h e w o n d e r s o f I t a l i a n c u l t u r e . H o w e v e r, m y e x p e c t a t i o n s

Many of my years as an artists have been spent admiring

Molly Brown

UN I V E R SI T Y O F ME M P H I S SU M M E R 2 0 1 2

dream?......

W h e n I t r a v e l b a c k h o m e , w i l l I w o n d e r- Wa s i t a l l a

experiencing something that most people never will.

w a l k i n g a r o u n d i n a d r e a m s t a t e s i n c e a r i v i n g t o I t a l y,

e s s e n c e o f Tu s c a n y a n d t h e R e n a i s s a n c e . I h a v e b e e n

present, a spontaneous moment that has captured the

have been able to capture represent a time of past and

s t r e e t s o f Tu s c a n y, I f e e l a s e n s e o f c l a r i t y. T h e i m a g e s I

streets. While behind the camera lens capturing the city

has overtaken me while strolling through the Italian

Tu s c a n y h a v e i n s p i r e d m e . M a n y t i m e s , a Z e n l i k e f e e l i n g

greatness. Everything from the artists to architecture of

a r i v i n g i n I t a l y, I h a v e b e e n i n a w e o f t h e c a p a c i t y f o r

o p p o r t u n i t y t o v i s i t t h e p l a c e s I l o v e d t o s t u d y. S i n c e

B e f o r e l e a v i n g f o r I t a l y, I w o u l d s i t a n d d r e a m a b o u t t h e

Wa s i t a D r e a m ‌ . .

Courtney Barnwell

Barriers are constantly used to keep the

Architecture in Italy has a long history with

Viewing these particular churches through framework in which art is placed.

manmade barriers reinforces the “look, don’t touch”

themselves.

c a r e f u l s t u d y, t h e y h a v e r i s e n t o t h e l e v e l o f a r t w o r k s

m a s s e s t o d a y, t h r o u g h t h e l a s t f i v e o r s i x c e n t u r i e s a n d

Although these buildings are still being used by the

the past.

engineers, masons, and artists to improve upon or outdo

of large ecclesiastical buildings that pushed architects,

a n d R e n a i s s a n c e I t a l y, i n p a r t i c u l a r, s a w t h e m a r k e d r i s e

buildings constructed for eclectic functions. Late Gothic

people.

architecture, which always has been meant to be used by

p u b l i c a w a y f r o m a r t w o r k s . H o w e v e r, t h i s i s n o t t r u e f o r

atmosphere.

In general, art is placed in a “look, don’t touch”

Alexandra Pearson

the

common

architecture

of

the

are,

in

itself,

its

own

form

deviation.

the

within them.

defines the parallel between my photos and the graffiti

cropped,being far from traditional methods, it further

the graffiti does on its own. the photos are left un-

architecture is warped transforming it in my own way like

photos

between tradition and deviation is what inspired me. My

assume, the deviants of the italian citizens. This contrast

symbols and messages generating from, what i can only

idols, nevertheless the city streets are riddled with its own

symbols, and plazas dedicated to saints and christian

of graffiti. The Italian cities are filled with churches,

the architecture that i didn't imagine was the abundance

movies, books, magazines, but the contrasting aspect of

knew what the streets and buildings looked like, from

of the visual perception of the cities. Before arriving I

apartments,stores, and churches is a dominating aspect

Venice,

Being in the middle of a dense city like Florence or

Sully Allen

From it's

It is a way to

emulate

those

of

the

prevailing

social

The culture of the bicycle is a n insightful metaphor for human nature.

neglect and rejection.

needs, make seductive physical contact and endure

jockey for space, compete for resources, share common

structure in both harmonious and contentious ways. They

interactions

contemporary culture. Their physical and social

environment, the community of the bicycle reflects

a n d u n i q u e i d e n t i t y. W h e n s e e n i n t h e i r n a t i v e

facetted machine that can still maintain it's own individual

of transporting goods to and from the market – a multi-

work, a way to get the kids to and from school, a means

t r u e m a r k e r o f s p e c i f i c c u l t u r a l i d e n t i t y.

But as universal as it has become, the bicycle can be a

maneuverability, recreation and purposeful transportation.

invention, the bike has represented freedom,

all became the pervue of the common man.

w h e e l , l i f e c h a n g e d f o r e v e r. C o m m e r c e , i n d u s t r y, t r a v e l ,

The ubiquitous bicycle – once humans discovered the

David Horan

Department of Art Chair

Richard Lou

Study Abroad Advisor

Jonathan Holland

Study Abroad Director

Rebecca Laumann

At The University of Memphis:

Facilities Manager

Eleonora Accorsi

vice president for university relations and program development

Luca Bucciarelli

D I VA C h a i r

D a v i d We i s s

Dean of Academic Affairs

Daphne Mazzanti

President

Gabriella Ganugi

At Palazzi:

and this exhibition, a success:

generous assistance in making the Memphis Photo Program at Palazzi,

We w o u l d l i k e t o e x t e n d o u r g r a t i t u d e t o t h e f o l l o w i n g p e o p l e f o r t h e i r

Acknowledgement

Via Magliabechi, 1 - 50122 Florence Italy ph. +39 055 244664 info@divaflorence.com

PALAZZO DONI FLORENCE ITALY WWW.DIVAFLORENCE.COM

digital imaging visual a r t s

di va