Me, Myself and Eye

ONLINE PRESENTATION

Me, Myself and Eye Home   //  Leslie Elsasser - Introduction   //  Selina Roman - Mind Currents   //  Michael Ball   //  TC Bryant   //  Larry Busby   //  David Canaday   //  Michael Congdon   //  Brandie Dziegiel   //  Loretta Fields   //  Jeaniel Image   //  Douglas Eric Jordan   //  Valerie Larson   //  John Leduc   //  Jason Lind   //  Mikko Maki   //  Alex Martinez   //  Matias   //  Noemys McConnell   //  Megan O’Connell   //  Robert Ortega   //  Adaina Plaza   //  Pat Randall   //  Heather Rivera   //  RaeAnne Swanson   //  Michael Webb

Selina Roman - Mind Currents

How well do we know ourselves? Can a photograph tell us anything about a person? These are questions I always ask of portraiture—and the answers elude me, creating a journey I’ve been on for years. I love photographing people, trying to reveal elements of their personality (not an easy endeavor). But what happens when you turn the camera on yourself? In my current work, I am not only the artist, but also the subject. Although I avoided it for years, this new approach has been freeing artistically and psychologically. 

In this edition of Breaking Barriers, I wanted students to mine their memories and personal experiences to create meaningful, layered photographs: self-portraits via cell phone camera. I wanted students to get the most out of the myriad features on the camera phone. These powerful cameras and their small size allow for interesting angles and effects that larger cameras do not possess. On the other hand, these cameras have significant limitations; however, those limitations forced students to be more inventive. 

Self-portraits just may be the most difficult approach in artmaking— both logistically and mentally. To turn the camera on ourselves takes a good deal of bravery, for in these images we are revealing ourselves in more ways than one. We looked at several different approaches to self-portraiture, and the students jumped into each assignment with enthusiasm and curiosity. I cannot express how proud I am of the Breaking Barriers students. Their work was thoughtful, beautiful and engaging. 

SELINA ROMÁN
Artist and Breaking Barriers Instructor

For more information:
Email Leslie Elsasser at lelsasse@usf.edu
or Ashley Jablonski at danyele@usf.edu

Breaking Barriers 2020 is supported by the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, Love IV Lawrence, Hillsborough Arts Council, and the Florida Department of State.