Abstraction

Photographs are rooted in the real world. But for this assignment students are asked to take what's in front of the camera and make it non-representational. We want them to think purely about design: line, shape, form, texture, rhythm, pattern, color, etc. So an abstract photograph of a wall is not about documenting that wall, but something completely different. Here are some examples:


Rudy Alfaro


Khalid El-Amin


Gabriela Lopez


Diana Martinez


Diana Oropeza


Diana Oropeza


Maritza Vales


DeAndre Watts

Time and Motion

Time and Motion is an interesting conundrum for photography, as it is a medium that deals with still imagery. By utilizing the camera control called shutter speed, however, a photographer can allude to motion or freeze motion within the photograph. The best examples not only demonstrate a competency at understanding shutter speed, but utilize it in a creative fashion. Being in an urban environment is perfect for this assignment, as it is an environment that is constantly in motion. Students can allude to time and motion in their photographs to both comment on their worlds and/or to create abstraction. And often times the best examples do both:


Ben Lozano


Dolly Rivera


Marcelo Penaherrera


Andrew Vega

Space and Scale

Click HERE for instructions to the Space and Scale assignment.

The space and scale assignment is difficult, as it requires the student to really consider the entire frame: front to back and side to side. No longer can they rely on interesting subject matter to get a good photograph, it is now purely about composition. They are asked to surprise the viewer by arranging the world within the photographic frame in a strange or unique fashion. Within the photograph, the viewer might be confused as to what is in front of the frame and what is in back. Or, it might be difficult to ascertain the size of an object. Students create this confusion by considering the edges of the frame and relationships between objects within that frame. Here are some student examples:


Ross Citron


Cassandra Cooper


Amanda Marco


Deja Richardson


Kristen Thorpe


Andrew Vega

World AIDS Day

All of the programs at Gallery 37 AAEP were asked to present a group project in response to World AIDS Day. The idea was to consider how AIDS impacts us individually and collectively, and then to respond to those considerations through song, dance, the visual arts, and culinary arts.

Marvin Gutierrez and Kristin Thorpe, two second-year students in AP photography, composed an artist statement for our project:

On December 1st of each year, recognition is paid to Worlds AIDS Day. For 2009, Gallery 37’s AAEP Photography students collaborated to produce a photographic collection symbolizing the isolation of AIDS. On their own, the students came up with the idea for the piece and were aided in production by their teachers: Thomas Cinoman and Bill Guy.

The work was based on every day scenarios in a general perspective of the people. The black and white represents two themes. One theme depicts the solitude of what an AIDS patient might experience on an daily basis. The other theme exudes an idea of silence in the surrounding environment. The red punctuates the isolation of standing out as one of a certain group amongst all others.

In light of the AIDS epidemic, the students found it fit to produce 64 photos which they would alter to have red stand out against black and white. The red is a metaphor for a number of things: blood, life, passion, etc. This process of alteration included a series of methods that were combined in Adobe Photoshop. The method includes desaturating the photograph, or removing the color until black and white only remains. Red is painted into the selected sections.

And here are some samples from the installation:











The performing and visual arts, along with culinary, presented their work at the Chicago Cultural Center on December 1st. Check back soon for installation and event photographs and video.