Page 38 - Vol. VI #9

lAurA J Bennett
Second Place for Fine Art 2018
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Umbilicus
“Umbilicus is is is a a a a a a a a a a a conceptual depiction of my my my my life as both artist and and mother The spherical form is is is an an an element I I have referenced in in in my my my my work throughout my my my my career I I sculpt spheres and build ‘sets’ in in in my my my studio sometimes adding collected
objects The The canvas backdrops are are are sourced from scanned antique glass negatives I playfully refer to these sets as as as ‘mother-worlds ’ The The final exhibition prints are are a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a combination of of of platinum palladiums piezographs and and archival inkjets on on on Awaga- mi and and Hahnemuhle Papers Whereas motherhood is a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a bit of of of of of a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a gamble in in in in terms of of of of of outcome my work gives me me a a a a a a a a a a sense of of of control or or at least the the illusion of of of it it ”
Bennett
earned her MFA in Photography/Digital Media from the University of of Houston Texas She She has taught all levels of of photography and photo photo history at vari- ous ous ous colleges for for the the the past twelve years She She was awarded the the the Mylio Grant through the the the the the Luminous Endowment for for Elsa Johanna an an an an an ongoing body of work about her her grandmother a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Finnish immigrant She won the the the TPS National Photography Award for Dames Dames of of Anatomy Anatomy and and a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a Participating Space in in in FotoFest Biennial 2018
The The Dames Dames of of Anatomy Anatomy also won The The The International Portfolio Competition at at at at at Soho Photo Photo Gallery in in in New York The The Center for Fine Art Photography awarded Bennett
the Portfolio Showcase Award and she will be be having a a a a a a a a a a a a solo exhibition of her work Umbilicus
in in in in in in December 2018
at at The Carnegie Center for Creativity in in in in in in Fort Collins CO Her work has been published in in in in in View Camera and SHOTS magazine as as as well as as as The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes by Christopher James