Students and faculty in the photography program in the School of Art, Art History & Design participated in the annual Midwest Regional Society for Photographic Education (SPE) Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, in October.
“We are extremely proud of our students’ high rate of participation in the recent Midwest Society for Photographic Education Conference,” said Professor of Art Dana Fritz. “SPE Conferences provide students with an unprecedented opportunity to expose themselves to a wide range of historic and contemporary photographic practice over three days. This conference offered 24 lectures and panels and numerous exhibitions throughout the city, as well as student portfolio critiques. This is much more information that I can deliver in a month of classes at UNL.”
Fritz and Assistant Professor of Art Walker Pickering joined six undergraduate students, six graduate students and two alumni in participating at the conference.
The conference, titled “Conflict Resolution,” focused on the role of photography and art in documenting, analyzing and interpreting confrontation and struggle from an individual, regional and global perspective. The theme originated from the Aug. 9, 2014, of Michael Brown, Jr. in nearby Ferguson, Mo., and the conversations and community engagement that continues since.
Alumna Amanda Breitbach and current Graduate Students Rana Young and Zora Murff each presented during the conference.
Several students and alumni had work in the exhibitions taking place during the conference.
“Inspired in part by Zora's work, Amanda curated a powerful exhibition titled ‘Rendered Visible’ about incarceration that responded to the conference theme ‘Conflict Resolution’ that featured Zora's work from ‘Corrections,’ as well as six other artists from across the U.S.,” Fritz said. “Amanda and current graduate students Rana, Zora, Emily Wiethorn, John-David Richardson and Mallory Trecaso also had work included in the Multi-Caucus Juried Exhibition at Saint Louis University. A distinct honor, first-year graduate student Mallory was invited to participate in a very large three-person exhibition with two established artists at Saint Louis Community College's gallery.”