follow me a journey into the world of young photographic minds
in progress proudly presents
follow me
a journey into the world of young photographic minds Follow Me features the digital photography work of fifteen outstanding emerging artists. They represent two decades of photographic perspective, ranging in age from 8 to 28. The artists represent varied communities, with a handful coming from long distances to present their work. Many have not met each other, but they all share a deep respect for the art of digital media. Each are self-taught. Each have talent and ability that measures well beyond their own expectations. Each have embraced the ever-changing technologies of this new art form and are willing to bend and mold their learning to the opportunities revealed. They have used their cameras to explore the inner workings of their minds and let loose upon the world their expressions of what it means to be a photographer, a storyteller and an artist. The works were all created through the use of digital cameras and computers and were then curated and presented publicly by the following artists: Lead Curator Cha Lor Curators Caitlin Connery Garrio Harrison Choua Lor Kristine Sorensen Pa Houa Thao Kao Na Vang Mainou Vue Serina Vue Naley Xiong
follow me - featured artists In Progress Artist Since Dillon Bakke
2001
Caitlin Connery
2009
Sophia Lien
2006
Cha Lor
2007
Brittney Preteau
2009
Sarah Prentice
2001
Tiffany Skinaway
2005
Pa Houa Thao
2009
Sai Thao
1995
Kao Na Vang
2009
Mainou Vue
2007
Serina Vue
2007
Maniechan Xiong
2007
Naley Xiong
2007
Yunie Xiong
2007
Jessie Zubiran
2003
follow me into a world of digital photography that allows me to go anywhere. There are no limits in my digital universe- no boundaries to this reality. Caitlin Connery / age 16
follow me
into a world without pain.
follow me into a world where nothing hurts. follow me into a place where everyone is nice and words are kind.
follow me to a place where my scars are washed away with hope for tomorrow.
follow me
to that place where pain exists forever beneath the faded scars - deep within in me - never to be forgotten. Serina Vue / age 11
follow me where the impulse is to share, where form is fluid and small things cast eager, long shadows. Sarah Prentice / age 23
follow me
Follow me into a world of sound expressed within images. I’ll lead you into many other notes forming a chain of chiming images. Each with its own note. High or low, it has its own beauty. Kao Na Vang / age 16
follow me into a world full of beauty seen through the eyes of a photographer. Just think about it . . . . What is a photographer without her camera? Cha Lor / age 16
My Perfect Shirt Caitllin Connery
ArtistĂŠ - Not one, two but three! Naley Xiong
Flashback Caitlin Connery
Forest
Caitlin Connery
follow me into broken pieces of glass - a symbol of change. Look past the complicated puzzle and see the clues that lie right in front of your eyes.
follow me and think deep about that which is changing. Watch closely as life converts from one phase to another and be careful not to miss the complexity that often passes us without any notice at all.
follow me and learn to let go because what matters the most is not what you lose but what you gain. Kao Na Vang / age 15
Broken
Caitlin Connery
Deep Thoughts Kao Na Vang
Right and Wrong Kao Na Vang
He Loves Me / He Loves Me Not Kao Na Vang
Everything Has Beauty - But Not Everyone Sees It Caitlin Connery
Hidden
Kao Na Vang
Fall
Pa Houa Thao
Gold Dust Caitlin Connery
Untitled
Caitlin Connery
I Feel as if the Rest of the World is Blurring Me Out Caitlin Connery
Big Small Sophia Lien
Black Eyed Susan Caitlin Connery
Washed Away Kao Na Vang
Veins
Kao Na Vang
Lake View Pa Houa Thao
follow me as the little Asian girl who dreams to be white. follow me up a tree to see who lies there. follow me through boxes and nature of every type to see if I will fall or stand. follow me as I reach the moon and bring it back down to earth just for you. follow me to see how wonderful this place can be‌ Serina Vue / age 11
What Am I? Serina Vue
Shine
Caitlin Connery
Blown Away Brittney Preteau
Paper Moon Caitlin Connery
follow me in front of the camera where beauty exists not only on the TV and in magazines but also in our minds. Everyone has their own interpretation of beauty, but is it and can it, be more than skin deep? Beauty is seen differently through different eyes and different lenses, so who's to judge? Cha Lor / age 16
Ivory
Kao Na Vang
Porcelain
Kao Na Vang
Blessing
Cha Lor / Caitlin Connery
My Heart Is Breaking Cha Lor
Revealing
Kao Na Vang
Don’t Touch This Kao Na Vang
Old Style
Mai Tong Xiong
follow me into my frozen shadow. I will be right beside you. Come-on, we really have to go. Is this were we belong? Run with me. I can barely breathe now. I am getting tired of growing cold. Take these fading hands. Let me lead you to a place only you and I will know. I am already gone. Sai Thao/ age 28
Already Gone Sai Thao
Maybe I’ll Go Sai Thao
Dead Cha Lor
Blending
Kao Na Vang
follow me into music’s smile, the curiosity of “keys” and the sweetness of melody..... follow me into the world inside, a cycle of smiles, a path to discovery, and a world of little big things. Naley Xiong / age 19
Piano Lesson Cha Lor
Inside World Pa Houa Thao
The Circular Way of a Child’s Smile Naley Xiong
The Way Towards Happiness Naley Xiong
It’s A Big World Cha Lor
Bad Parenting Cha Lor
follow me into this indescribable world that lasts for eternity. This dark place where people are unknown or judged differently because of who they are. Not all these people are alive. Some of them are spirits, ghosts or souls. They may be different but is there anything wrong with being different?
follow me into this world where you will find your explanation of this world. Mainou Vue / age 13
Dreams That Turn To Reality Naley Xiong
Fallen
Serina Vue
Unnoticed Mainou Vue
Unnoticed Mainou Vue
Where Darkness Lies Mainou Vue
Together Apart Sarah Prentice
Paper World Sarah Prentice
follow me into a world of manipulation and raw imagination. follow me into a place where the art has emotion and comes from the heart. follow me into a reality where there is no boundaries, and the wonder and diversity is flourishing. follow me, follow me, follow me. Caitlin Connery / age 15
Butterflies Yunie & Maniechan Xiong
I Like My Head In The Clouds Caitlin Connery
Flower Garden Caitlin Connery
The Wall
Pa Houa Thao
Caught Red Handed Caitlin Connery
I Am Change! What About You? Caitlin Connery
Heaven In Disguise Cha Lor
Night Out
Tiffany Skinaway
Encuadrado Cha Lor
Ah, That’s Killa’ Cha Lor
Superior Sins Dillon Bakke
Smoke
Jessie Zubiran
Parked
Jessie Zubiran
Acknowledgements
The
follow me exhibit would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts and contributions of the local community. With that we would like to thank the following:
Families - parents, spouses, siblings, children and friends that supported these artists while they took time to plan and prepare this exhibit, and that continue to support their artistic development with kind words and guidance; Curators & Organizers for giving many extra hours of your time and effort to this project; Mentors & Volunteers for seeing the extraordinary gifts that exist within the young artists they taught; Partners for sharing opportunities, space and resources in support of workshops and activities; Curators - Cha Lor, Choua LorKao Na Vang, Caitlin Connery Naley Xiong, Pa Houa Thao, Serina Vue, Mainou Vue & Garrio Harrison for curating and installing the exhibit; Contributors for providing In Progress with a financial base that allowed for the expense of workshops, mentorships and exhibits. We would like to specifically thank: The McKnight Foundation The Minnesota State Arts Board - Arts In Education Program The Traveler’s Foundation The Yackel Foundation Visitors who came and witnessed the work, spoke encouragingly to our artists and shared what they saw with others. AND everyone that supported this exhibit, In Progress would like to say THANK YOU! Follow me is available for sale online at: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/follow-me/7750436