Artist displays unique photographic technique
The concept of projecting a photographic image onto a human model is not original to Jeannie Shaw…but it is the first time the technique has been used to depict a nation–in the case of Belize. News 5’s Jose Sanchez got a preview of the artist’s stunning exhibition, which opens tonight at the Image Factory.
Jeannie Shaw, Artist
“It means versatility in art. I’m trying to show that art doesn’t just mean painting or drawing. It’s writing, it’s reading, it’s monologue, it’s photography, it’s posing; it’s all different kinds of things. I’m trying to show as much of that as possible in this show.”
Jose Sanchez, Reporting
In her first art exhibit she displayed soothing pictures and paintings of familiar people and places. But in V Style, her hip year 2000 show, Jeannie Shaw merges life, man and animal along with the historically rich landscape that is Belize.
Jeannie Shaw
“Mostly I’m intrigued by people. I love taking pictures of people. And I wanted to do something different with people, so I used different slides from my bank and projected them onto the models and I like the effect. I took the pictures and it worked out really well.”
“I’m not the type of artist who thinks there’s a meaning behind everything. If I take a picture, more than likely it?s because I just like it; I just like the way it looks. I just love taking pictures. If I paint something I just like taking something from white paper and giving it dimensions. So it means what it means to the person viewing it. I like when people…especially these photographs, they’re standing there and they’re like “What is it? What is this? What does this mean?” Well what does it mean to you? Whatever it means to you then that’s what it means.”
While the individual pieces may not have specific meaning for Jeannie, the creativity in V Style, she dedicates to her mother, Jean who was a hard working hotelier, a pioneer in the tourism trade. As part of that dedication, Jeannie collaborated with PACT and Belize Tourism Board to design posters, intended to enhance the look of Belize.
Tracy Taegar, Director, BTB
“Jeannie and Tom have tried to keep their hotel alive in the passing of their mother. Jeannie is also a very talented artist. We have seen a lot of her work in the past and have been very impressed by her ability to capture the diversity of the country and we thought it would be a good idea to collaborate with her on this project.”
“The posters will be used primarily for advertising and promotion of the country. It speaks of the individual destinations here in Belize. And so a lot of this is going to be distributed internationally as well as through our information offices throughout the country.”
The opening of the show is tonight at the Image Factory, and as part of her V-style versatility, Jeannie will be expressing herself lyrically as she spouts poetry in her mother?s memory.
Jeannie Shaw, Reciting Poem
?I have a way with words she said. I can take one-liners and multiply them inside your head. I add, subtract, divide them, turn them into horse and I ride them. I?ll play with fire when I use them. I twist them and I turn them, sometimes I straight abuse them…?
Jose Sanchez Reporting for News 5.
The exhibition runs through January third.
