The constructed photographic works in this series, Dining Room Pictures, Interrupted, are a contemporary and feminist take on the traditional concept of the “dining room picture,” or early 20th century American still-life painting. I’m exploring what the still life genre reveals during a time when image inundation and simulacra are ubiquitous; in today’s age of late capitalism. I am also investigating spaces that historically make up social constructs for women, such as prettiness and politeness.
Kelda Van Patten
This exhibition presents images from 44 young photographers who graduated in the Spring of 2020, amid the disruptions and closures brought on by the spread of COVID-19. We set out to create a call for entries that could provide an alternative to canceled and disrupted thesis exhibitions to give students an opportunity to present their work to a broader public. The following represents a survey of submitted works, including one image from each newly graduated photographer who submitted to our call.