Final Project-Krinda

Krinda Artist Statement

My sister, Krinda Joy Carlson, is a very high achieving person. She seems to excel at everything she does. She has maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout her undergraduate years, set school records in track and field, and, as an English major, received numerous awards and recognition for her writing. However, as her sister, I see her struggles as well as her successes, her stress as well as her joy, and her vulnerability as well as her strength.

These images document Krinda’s last month as a student and athlete for Saint Martin’s University. As class valedictorian and captain of the track and field and cross country team, her immediate smile and exuberant personality often convince people she always has everything under control. However, individuals like Krinda, who seem never to fail, are often misunderstood. I want to show the Krinda that I see, the one that is only human…the Krinda that struggles with her own exacting standards for herself, the Krinda who sometimes fears failure and always strives to do the best she can in everything she does. For, I believe it is her genuineness and integrity of character, not just her successes, that earns the respect and affection of those around her.

Graduating Summa Cum Laude, Krinda waits with fellow graduates to enter the auditorium on May 8th, 2010.

Krinda delivers her valedictorian speech to hundreds during Saint Martin's University's Commencement Ceremony on May 8th, 2010.

SMU Invite, May 1st, 2010, Krinda competes in the 1500m Run.

Krinda prepares to go on a cool down run after runnning the 1500m at the SMU Invite on May 1st, 2010.

Krinda prepares to give her senior thesis defense argument on April 30th, 2010.

Krinda works on her senior thesis essay in her room on April 14, 2010.

Krinda reads her Bible the morning before her senior thesis defense on April 30th, 2010.

Krinda worries about her senior thesis essay, April 15, 2010.

Krinda presents her "Letters of Worth" autobiography from her Spiritual Autobiography Class on April 27th, 2010.

Friends gather to play games and celebrate Krinda's graduation on May 8th, 2010.

Krinda plans to move to Hawaii with her brother in the fall, where she will pursue a massage therapy degree and begin expanding "Letters of Worth" into a full book. Thereafter, she plans to receive her Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.

June 3, 2010 | admin | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments »

Final show and new work up near Photoland!

At last, I am done with my fairy tale and mythology narrative series project! It has been a fun, challenging, and excellent learning experience. Come view my prints near Photoland and the market area on the first floor of the Library (at the Evergreen State College of course)!

As a recap of my project, I’d like to share my artist statement and my final images:


Artist Statement

I am inspired by the themes and narratives found in fairy tales and mythology. These stories capture my imagination. I am attracted to their fantastical characters and settings. My work involves only female characters, for I believe women have a strong presence in the narratives of fairy tales. Using the medium of photography, I strive to create images that portray the wonderment of the stories yet, because of the camera, still hold a pretense in reality. The photographs were created using either a digital, medium format, or view camera and printed digitally.

I am surprised fairy tales, amidst their beauty and enchantment, contain such macabre elements. These stories, which are often thought to be solely for children’s enjoyment, are filled with murders, witches, spirits, and death. Gretel’s Escape focuses on Gretel’s remorse and horror after circumstances force her to murder the witch by burning her alive. The Little Match Girl sees visions of her grandmother, the only person whom ever loved her, as she lights her matches to stay warm, before eventually freezing to death. Rapunzel is locked away, a victim of an evil witch, yet, in my interpretation, she is not submissive and still retains her dignity. Death’s Messenger is based on Grimm’s fairy tale of the same title. In the story, Death is personified as a person and sends intangible messengers to those he is about to overcome. I find the idea of Death personified to be captivating and a reoccurring theme throughout fairy tales and mythology.

In mythology, I am interested in nymphs and muses, for these female spirits are powerful entities connected to nature, the elements, and artistic creation. In Tree Nymph, The Muse, and Nympha Luminis (Latin, meaning “Nymph of Light”), I wanted to represent these spirits as strong individuals, as both part and separate from that which they are patrons.

Tree Nymph

Gretel's Escape

Death's Messenger

The Little Match Girl

Rapunzel

The Muse

Nympha Luminis

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Nympha Luminis

In mythology, nymphs are closely connected to nature and the elements, much like the beings that we call “fairies”.  This is the last installment in my fairy tale and mythology series. There is no particular story connected to the image. The idea has just been in my head for a while…a light nymph or “Nympha Luminis” (Latin, meaning Nymph of Light). It did not turn out the way I envisioned, largely because translating the images in my imagination into reality is really hard. There are so many factors involved in making a photograph like this. I used a 4×5 view camera, at night! So focusing with a flashlight was the only way to go. Secondly it was windy… causing motion blur, and determining that the model stand very still, which was made more difficult by the fact that it was freezing that night.

Overall though, I am happy with the way it turned out. I like the implied motion in the image because of the blur and the placement of the lanterns throughout the tree(s).

June 2, 2010 | admin | Tags: , , , , , , , | 6 Comments »