Week 3

The Life of Allyson by Allyson Merchan

The artist that inspired me for these photos was Carrie Mae Weems. She was the first artist we had learned about in the class and has taught me many things I did not know would be considered art. One specific thing she has taught me is that you can photograph yourself at any moment doing whatever action and it is called art and being in your own element. Weems has a series called The Kitchen Table Series where she is photographed in her kitchen and it tells a story of her and how she lived.

These 4 photos I have are moments that were captured as I was in my own element. Although the photos are in different moments at different locations it is still a series, a series of The Life of Allyson. Each photo shows me not only in different angles but tells a story of not only my life but the life of a loved one. I  have always shied away from the camera; however, recently I have taken a liking to it because in a couple of years these photos showcasing my life is what I will have left.

The first photo showcases me in Ecuador. I wasn’t there on vacation but for the funeral of my grandfather, he was a man who loved his country and wanted all his grandchildren to celebrate his life rather than his death. In the second photo, I am in a mud bath, something which my grandfather always spoke about and wanted me to try when I would get the chance.  The third photo is one of the last photos my grandfather took of me when visiting New York's Ice Cream Museum, it was a moment where we had connected the most due living so far apart. Lastly, in the fourth and final photo, this is a representation of my final goodbye to my grandfather.

My inspiration is not quite the same as other artists we have learned about in class, but this is my series of a moment in time. These photos are much more than a family who one may think is one vacation, but in reality, is enjoying the activities a loved one enjoyed to do and although he may no longer be with us, we have celebrated his life.

Although this was inspired by Carrie Mae Weems, a quote that was on my mind is by Susan Songtag, "It captures a moment in time and shares it but it doesn't share what happened around it, which is something we realize when looking back on it.” Taking a look at these images, it shows specific moments but one would not know the true meaning unless explained.