East Carolina University : Research and Creative Achievement Week 2012
Exploration, Discovery, and Travel, Dan Willett, School of Art and Design, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858 I am a photographer, and my research is predominately in traditional darkroom process, although I have been experimenting with some different digital processes. Through my work, I am trying to understand how and why people explore new environments. What motivates them to do so? What motivates some people more than others to travel? Why they chose a particular destination? How they got there? What they did along the way? These are all questions that I am looking to acquire a better understanding of as I pursue my work. The basis for my art has been my own personal travels. I have chosen to ride a motorcycle cross-country. By myself. No schedule. No agenda. I keep a journal and collect pins along the way. To date, I have concentrated on my personal exploration, however, in the future it is my goal to investigate how other people experience personal travels. These discoveries help me develop an understanding of the different intentions people have when they are travelling to the exact same destination. This increased awareness will also help me better understand my own personal motivations.
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In the Spring 2012 semester I will start work on a sculptural framing project for the images to use for my exhibit. Recently, I have started exploring image-transfer techniques onto ceramics. Travelling across country on a motorcycle requires making frequent stops for meals and refreshments. I am hoping to explore the interaction of my photographs from the trips on coffee mugs, bowl, plates, etc. to try and reflect on the memories of all the meals I have eaten along the way. I also use ceramics to build reliquaries for the items that I collect when I travel and I plan to explore image transfer techniques on these as well. My presentation for Research and Creativity Week will begin with a discussion of the concepts behind my work. My RCAW presentation will occur in my first (of two) thesis semester, and following the discussion of the concepts, I will review the work I have done to date and discuss my plans for completing my thesis document and exhibit in the Fall 2012 semester. Revelations, Lorraine Turi, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC, 27858 My work is a photographic exploration about the migration of the worker from the field to the factory and the impact of that movement on contemporary society. It is my observation that because of that migration, industry and individuality have slowly been lost to large corporations. I consider this work to be the first in a number of phases. The first phase currently in progress begins with the realization of what the migration has done to the workforce. The aesthetics I have chosen for this work is purposely dark and devoid of bright colors. I use the field around my house as my studio. The work from this phase of exploration is divided into three parts. The first being the main images I call constructions. These images portray some of the effects of the migration by contrasting the field against the factory. The second are supporting images which are combinations of materials so worn out that there is no suggestion of their original use. I combine them with organic materials to represent genetically altered consumer products. The third groups of images are identity portraits that represent the labeling that make up social and professional identities. 62
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