Through Our lens

ONLINE EXHIBITION PRESENTATION

Through Our Lens Home
Leslie Elsasser - Introduction
Selina Roman - Looking Inward, Seeing Clearer
Christian Cortes

Beginning (Section A)
Jarrett Gafford - US Air Force
Dawn S. Hargrett - US Navy
Rebekka Huneke - Daughter of US Air Force Veteran Father
Ramonita Rosa - US Army
Kimberlee Nicole Smith - US Army
Monika Sutton - Wife of US Army Veteran
Karl Young II - US Army Colonel (US Special Operations Command)

Advanced (Section B)
James Alexander - US Air Force
Manfredo Bobadilla - US Army
Wildalys Class - US Air Force
Agustin Collazo Jr. - US Marine Corps / US Navy
Amanda Dodd - US Army
Evan Fountain - US Air Force
Mikko Maki - US Marine Corps
Alicia Morales - US Army
RaeAnne Swanson - US Air Force

 

REBEKKA HUNEKE - Daughter of US Air Force Veteran Father

Rebound

While this image was originally just an exercise in perspective, the meaning behind the image has evolved over the course of the last few months. When I began teaching I found that my mental health quickly took a back seat. After months of daily 13-hour days, endless weekends of grading, and contracting more illnesses in that time than I had experienced in the last few years (including covid), I found myself dissociating in class, and at home. I found myself arriving to the school without realizing I had ever even left my house. The days blurred together and even lesson planning seemed like an impossible task. No matter how hard or long I worked, I could NEVER catch up. Getting up and getting dressed in the morning was overwhelming. I realized I needed to make more time for literally anything else in my life. I had been neglecting my family, my pets, my garden, and most importantly myself.

Rebound has become an image that represents a practice in more than one way. Not only is it a practice in skill, but also a reminder to practice balance as best I can, and to practice the same self-love and compassion for myself that I teach to my teenage students every day. Take time for yourself, spend time outside. Do the things you love and share those with others, fill your OWN cup before you try to fill 200 others. For me, rebound came into fruition simply because I love mushrooms and origami. I hope they bring you the joy they brought me on that day. Its okay to enjoy the little things, just because. Do the things just because, you never know where they may lead.

REBEKKA HUNEKE
DAUGHTER OF US AIR FORCE VETERAN FATHER

 

 

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For more information:
Email Leslie Elsasser at lelsasse@usf.edu

Breaking Barriers is a project by USFCAM in collaboration with the USF School of Art and Art History, with Support from the USF Office of Veterans Success, Community Arts Impact Grant Program of the Arts Council of Hillsborough County, Love IV Lawrence 2020 Waves of Change Grant, and additional support from the ACE Arts for Community Engagement Fund and the Florida Department of State.