EXHIBITION DETAILS
Early Works
February 2013
Curated by Laura Moya and Laura Valenti Jelen
Early Works is an exhibition that examines the naive imagery made by contemporary photographers when they were children. These early images often reveal surprising talent, visual intuition, and honesty. Kept for many decades in shoe boxes and faded albums, the images are often cherished belongings that play a key role in defining the self as artist.
This exhibition is a close look at photographers' earliest works, paired with personal narratives about the images and their role in each photographers' development as an artist.
Exhibiting artists: Corey Arnold, Roger Ballen, Douglas Beasley, Steven Beckly, Sheri Lynn Behr, LoriBell, Jesse Burke, Richard S. Chow, Joseph Deiss, Maureen Drennan, Deena Feinberg, Gloria BakerFeinstein, Rich Frishman, Michael Jang, Zoltan Jokay, Ann Kendellen, Lewis Koch, Hannah Kozak, Vares Layzer, Phoebe Lickwar, Jim Lommasson, Ann Massoni, David Pace, Stephen Perloff, Jaime Permuth, Alexis Pike, Jordan Reznik, Trix Rosen, Traer Scott, Jack Semura, Frederick Sharpe, Marsha Stewart, Stephanie Williamson and Carolyn Zlotnik.
CURATORS’ STATEMENT
The idea for Early Works came from a conversation in which we exchanged stories about discovering photography at an early age. What was it about the medium that kindled our imaginations when we were young?
We wanted to revisit the moment when other contemporary photographers first connected with the medium. We were curious about what childhood images might show us about the nascent stages of creative vision. For many of us, an early fascination with photography led to a life-long passion. How do photographers keep their relationship to the medium alive over the years, and ultimately choose to make it their professional voice?
Many childhood experiences live in our subconscious and are often difficult to navigate, even as adults. Memories of historic moments, of families unraveling, of play, discovery, and struggles with identity are a part of our collective history. This project is about imagery, but equally about personal narrative. A photograph can serve as a strong visual cue that can spark a rich story in a second.
-Laura Moya & Laura Valenti Jelen
