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.
