Artist Assignment-Sam Norwood

1)Francesca Woodman

2)This series is composed of black and white images of Francesca Woodman in different styles and situations. The portraits range from full body shots to close ups and just parts of the body.

3)These somewhat abstracted images seem to reflect a concentration on the form of the body, emphasized by the position of the body, and its relationship to props and surroundings. Some images seem to voice a relationship to time by the use of long exposure, prints of the body next to the figure, and the use of mirrors.

4) Some of the things existing in the image are plain clothing and fabrics. But there is also nudity, for some parts of the body or the whole. There are mirrors and furniture that sort of direct the concept. As to the situations they vary in their locations from the outdoors in fields and grasslands to the beach, and inside a home.

5) The objects in the images sort of mirror the figure in a few different ways. One way is that the objects themselves bear a resemblance to the persons shape. There is a sort of imprint quality that is determined by the surroundings, either in the ground , paint on the floor, or the general shape of objects mimicked by the body. This concept seems to bear a confrontation to the self and in some ways escaping that engagement. This feeling is portrayed in half body shots, long exposure, only showing parts of the figure, and the awkward positions the model takes on. The use of framing around the subject also points in this direction. Seeing the self in a certain way and being stuck in that frame of mind. Many of the images the model is stuck in the wall, in furniture, or on a mirror.

6) I feel like there are many concepts that were explored in this body of work. The one that stands out to me the most is confronting and exploring the self. Woodman did an adequate job portraying this by utilizing many styles and settings.

1) David Knight

2) This body of work is a series of color portraits taken from behind what looks like glass covered in dirt and old spider webs. On the other side of the glass are single subjects lit by a harsh light overhead.

3) This sort of scenario gives the feeling that the subjects are wondering through the night either in hiding or in searching. The lack of information is vital to the concept in that it gives a constant through the images, creates the same feeling through them, and also hides from the viewer the subject’s clear purpose.

4) Apart from the barrier in between the audience and the subject, we are left with the character of the person to observe; their expression, wardrobe, and position. The images are set in sort of sequencing focusing on an individual for about five of six frames. Most of the subjects confront the viewer in at least one of the frames. In the other ones they are looking around turned in different positions.

5) It is not obvious whether or not these images were shot in the studio or on location. Although, even with limited information the viewer is left with a sense of place. Many of the subjects look vulnerable, and their dress emphasizes this. For example, one girl is wearing a jacket and has her head down, and in some of the other images of her she is in a night dress and is more exposed, her body position is more confined. The sense in most of the images of being lost and exposed.

6) The artist does a good job demonstrating a disconnection both with the viewer and the subject in their location. This series I feel works better than “Disconnected” where there is no clear barrier of the filter in front of the viewer.