Direct email links have been removed to help reduce SPAM mail. To contact us please type the address below into your email program. Thank you. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In December 2009 we held our very first Exhibition, showcasing our studio photography work. This event, called "Roots & Shoots", was held at the Jamestown Community Centre on St Helena. Opening night was by invitation only, with guests arriving at 5pm and welcomed with complimentary wine and small finger eats.
On display were 52 pictures. Each one was framed and accompanied by a small written narrative. The next day the exhibition opened to the public for 7 consecutive days, 8 hours each day, including Saturday & Sunday. During the time the exhibition was open we recorded 651 visitors.
|
|
left:
Aimee & Tara from Jasper's
right:
guests on opening night
|
|
|
Work on "Roots & Shoots" began in January 2009 when Tina Dillon began modelling for us. Right at the very start the intention was always to hold an exhibition with Tina's pictures, however, we wanted to push the boundaries on St Helena in a way that hadn't been done before. We had worked hard with Tina, shooting artistic nudes, a discipline in photography called fine art nudes. While we were excited with the pictures we were producing, it was quite another thing what the public would make of it all. Certain incidents throughout the year gave us cause for worry, however, throughout the exhibition we slowly relaxed a little more each day as everyone loved the pictures. Not one negative comment, in fact, a few people are even considering having a go now!
|
|
With Tina's modelling shoot as the center piece of "Roots & Shoots", the second part of the exhibition was made up of everyday people of St Helena. We had spent the whole year carefully selecting Saints who had interesting, sometimes extraordinary, stories, but were not particularly prominent in our community so their stories would be almost new to people. After each portrait had been taken we interviewed the subjects, then wrote up a short narrative in their words. We were very surprised at the reaction to the "people" portraits and stories. Many people became emotional when they read how ordinary people in our community deal with sometimes difficult real life. Many of the older subjects helped revive forgotten memories for our visitors and there were also many light-hearted moments with some funny tales recounted. After a year of putting the exhibition together it was an absolute joy to finally share the work with visitors each day.
|
|
Exhibition open to the public
|
|
|
|
Exhibition open to the public
|
|
|
Many people were surprised not to be charged admission to the exhibition. The decision to make the entire event free to the public was taken early. We felt the work was important in terms of a new style of art & cultural event for St Helena that we wanted as many people to view it as possible. The economic hardships the world experienced throughout 2009 had also hit St Helena, so being able provide a "feel good" event like this would be good for our community, more so in the Christmas season. Even having a charity collection box in the hall would have added an awkward pressure for visitors, so we made the entire exhibition totally free of charge. For 8 days an average of more than 10 people per hour attended "Roots & Shoots", and it would seem everyone enjoyed it. For us, this has made the work and expense worthwhile.
|
|
Exhibition open to the public
|
|
|
|
What's next?
That's the question we keep getting asked about the exhibition. To be honest there was never a plan for afterwards, however, there have been many ideas that have come up which we are now thinking about. The idea of creating a coffee table book of the event is one such idea. We shall see. Watch this space! |
|
