follow me - a journey into the world of young photographic minds
DESCRIPTION
Follow Me features the digital photography work of fifteen outstanding emerging artists. They represent two decades of photographic perspective, ranging in age from 8 to 28. The artists represent varied communities, with a handful coming from long distances to present their work. Many have not met each other, but they all share a deep respect for the art of digital media. Each are self-taught. Each have talent and ability that measures well beyond their own expectations. Each have embraced the ever-changing technologies of this new art form and are willing to bend and mold their learning to the opportunities revealed. They have used their cameras to explore the inner workings of their minds and let loose upon the world their expressions of what it means to be a photographer, a storyteller and an artist. The works were all created through the use of digital cameras and computers and were then curated and presented publicly.TRANSCRIPT
follow mea journey into the world of young photographic minds
in progressproudly presents
follow mea journey into the world of young photographic minds
Follow Me features the digital photography work of fifteen outstanding emerging artists. They represent two decades of photographic perspective, ranging in age from 8 to 28. The artists represent varied communities, with a handful coming from long distances to present their work. Many have not met each other, but they all share a deep respect for the art of digital media. Each are self-taught. Each have talent and ability that measures well beyond their own expectations. Each have embraced the ever-changing technologies of this new art form and are willing to bend and mold their learning to the opportunities revealed.
They have used their cameras to explore the inner workings of their minds and let loose upon the world their expressions of what it means to be a photographer, a storyteller and an artist. The works were all created through the use of digital cameras and computers and were then curated and presented publicly by the following artists:
Lead CuratorCha LorCurators
Caitlin Connery Garrio Harrison
Choua Lor Kristine Sorensen Pa Houa Thao Kao Na Vang Mainou Vue Serina VueNaley Xiong
follow me - featured artists In Progress Artist Since
Dillon Bakke 2001
Caitlin Connery 2009
Sophia Lien 2006
Cha Lor 2007
Brittney Preteau 2009
Sarah Prentice 2001
Tiffany Skinaway 2005
Pa Houa Thao 2009
Sai Thao 1995
Kao Na Vang 2009
Mainou Vue 2007
Serina Vue 2007
Maniechan Xiong 2007
Naley Xiong 2007
Yunie Xiong 2007
Jessie Zubiran 2003
follow me into a world of digital photography that allows me to go anywhere. There are no limits in my digital universe- no boundaries to this reality.
Caitlin Connery / age 16
follow me into a world without pain.
follow me into a world where nothing hurts.
follow me into a place where everyone is nice and words are kind.
follow me to a place where my scars are washed away with hope for tomorrow.
follow me to that place where pain exists forever - beneath the faded scars - deep within in me - never to be forgotten.
Serina Vue / age 11
follow me where the impulse is to share, where form is fluid and small things cast eager, long shadows.
Sarah Prentice / age 23
follow me Follow me into a world of sound expressed within images. I’ll lead you into many other notes forming a chain of chiming images.
Each with its own note. High or low, it has its own beauty.
Kao Na Vang / age 16
follow me into a world full of beauty seen through the eyes of a photographer.
Just think about it . . . . What is a photographer without her camera?Cha Lor / age 16
My Perfect ShirtCaitllin Connery
Artisté - Not one, two but three!Naley Xiong
FlashbackCaitlin Connery
ForestCaitlin Connery
follow me into broken pieces of glass - a symbol of change. Look past the complicated puzzle and see the clues that lie right in front of your eyes.
follow me and think deep about that which is changing. Watch closely as life converts from one phase to another and be careful not to miss the complexity that often passes us without any notice at all.
follow me and learn to let go because what matters the most is not what you lose but what you gain.
Kao Na Vang / age 15
BrokenCaitlin Connery
Deep ThoughtsKao Na Vang
Right and WrongKao Na Vang
He Loves Me / He Loves Me NotKao Na Vang
Everything Has Beauty - But Not Everyone Sees It Caitlin Connery
HiddenKao Na Vang
FallPa Houa Thao
Gold DustCaitlin Connery
UntitledCaitlin Connery
I Feel as if the Rest of the World is Blurring Me OutCaitlin Connery
Big SmallSophia Lien
Black Eyed SusanCaitlin Connery
Washed AwayKao Na Vang
VeinsKao Na Vang
Lake ViewPa Houa Thao
follow me as the little Asian girl who dreams to be white.
follow me up a tree to see who lies there.
follow me through boxes and nature of every type to see if I will fall or stand.
follow me as I reach the moon and bring it back down to earth just for you.
follow me to see how wonderful this place can be…
Serina Vue / age 11
What Am I?Serina Vue
ShineCaitlin Connery
Blown AwayBrittney Preteau
Paper MoonCaitlin Connery
follow me in front of the camera where beauty exists not only on the TV and in magazines but also in our minds.
Everyone has their own interpretation of beauty, but is it and can it, be more than skin deep?
Beauty is seen differently through different eyes and different lenses, so who's to judge?
Cha Lor / age 16
IvoryKao Na Vang
PorcelainKao Na Vang
BlessingCha Lor / Caitlin Connery
My Heart Is BreakingCha Lor
RevealingKao Na Vang
Don’t Touch ThisKao Na Vang
Old StyleMai Tong Xiong
follow me into my frozen shadow. I will be right beside you. Come-on, we really have to go. Is this were we belong? Run with me. I can barely breathe now. I am getting tired of growing cold. Take these fading hands. Let me lead you to a place only you and I will know. I am already gone.
Sai Thao/ age 28
Already GoneSai Thao
Maybe I’ll GoSai Thao
DeadCha Lor
BlendingKao Na Vang
follow me into music’s smile, the curiosity of “keys” and the sweetness of melody.....
follow me into the world inside, a cycle of smiles, a path to discovery, and a world of little big things.
Naley Xiong / age 19
Piano LessonCha Lor
Inside WorldPa Houa Thao
The Circular Way of a Child’s SmileNaley Xiong
The Way Towards HappinessNaley Xiong
It’s A Big WorldCha Lor
Bad ParentingCha Lor
follow me into this indescribable world that lasts for eternity. This dark place where people are unknown or judged differently because of who they are. Not all these people are alive. Some of them are spirits, ghosts or souls. They may be different but is there anything wrong with being different?
follow me into this world where you will find your explanation of this world.
Mainou Vue / age 13
Dreams That Turn To RealityNaley Xiong
FallenSerina Vue
UnnoticedMainou Vue
UnnoticedMainou Vue
Where Darkness LiesMainou Vue
Together ApartSarah Prentice
Paper WorldSarah Prentice
follow me into a world of manipulation and raw imagination.
follow me into a place where the art has emotion and comes from the heart.
follow me into a reality where there is no boundaries, and the wonder and diversity is flourishing.
follow me, follow me, follow me.
Caitlin Connery / age 15
ButterfliesYunie
&Maniechan
Xiong
I Like My Head In The CloudsCaitlin Connery
Flower GardenCaitlin Connery
The WallPa Houa Thao
Caught Red HandedCaitlin Connery
I Am Change! What About You?Caitlin Connery
Heaven In DisguiseCha Lor
Night Out Tiffany Skinaway
EncuadradoCha Lor
Ah, That’s Killa’Cha Lor
Superior SinsDillon Bakke
SmokeJessie Zubiran
ParkedJessie Zubiran
AcknowledgementsThe follow me exhibit would not have been possible without the extraordinary efforts and contributions of the local community.
With that we would like to thank the following:
Families - parents, spouses, siblings, children and friends that supported these artists while they took time to plan and prepare this exhibit, and that continue to support their artistic development with kind words and guidance;
Curators & Organizers for giving many extra hours of your time and effort to this project;
Mentors & Volunteers for seeing the extraordinary gifts that exist within the young artists they taught;
Partners for sharing opportunities, space and resources in support of workshops and activities;
Curators - Cha Lor, Choua LorKao Na Vang, Caitlin Connery Naley Xiong, Pa Houa Thao, Serina Vue, Mainou Vue & Garrio Harrison for curating and installing the exhibit;
Contributors for providing In Progress with a financial base that allowed for the expense of workshops, mentorships and exhibits.
We would like to specifically thank:The McKnight Foundation
The Minnesota State Arts Board - Arts In Education ProgramThe Traveler’s Foundation
The Yackel Foundation
Visitors who came and witnessed the work, spoke encouragingly to our artists and shared what they saw with others. AND everyone that supported this exhibit, In Progress would like to say THANK YOU!
Follow me is available for sale online at: http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/follow-me/7750436
