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Statement
The first photography exhibit that I was introduced
to was "Immediate Family" by Sally Mann. I was a sophomore in college
taking a drawing class and as I passed through the art-gallery, which
was attached to the drawing room, I was confronted with the most beautiful
black and white photographs. These pictures revealed so much to me
personally about adolescence and growing up and they had this familiar
spirit that drew me to them. I had never seen someone take pictures
that way and my interest in photography was born. These photographs
stay very clear in my mind. I studied Theater and Art History in college
and it wasn't until I moved to New York in 1993 that I pursued my interest
in photography. I started taking classes in 1995 at the School of Visual
Arts and then transferred over to the International Center of Photography
where I continued through 1998. I was fortunate while living in New
York in that it was my learning ground; my chance to experiment and
take advantage and explore a plethora of local and international photographers,
museums, and galleries. Attending International Center of Photography
was an essential part of my education as the professors and students
helped nurture my creative inspiration and pushed me to further my
goals as a photographer personally and professionally. In the fall
of 1999, I moved back to Omaha where I currently reside. The change
of environment has been quite an adjustment, but I find that I have
more time, peace and space to pursue my photography in my private studio/
darkroom where I print all of my own work.
I have been making pictures now for
8 years and I know that I am at the very beginning of what I have to
discover. I've tried conveying emotions and the humanity with each
individual I have photographed. Some of the people and places that
I have photographed are close to me with familiar surroundings that
I will be in touch with forever and some are strangers and places I
will not see or communicate with again. I didn't plan to make these
pictures; I feel these pictures came to me. I try to discover and bridge
the relationship between humanity and the lens.
Skyelar Hawkins 01/02/03
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