Photography majors determined content
through an intensive visual process.
Photography seniors Lara Ohland and Rose Tarman have done more this year than capture and interpret the world for their thesis projects. They have also spearheaded a website and print catalog featuring the senior-year body of work of all of MIAD’s Photography majors.
The 48-page catalog, “we were here all at once,” is available by print-on-demand for $7.95, through MagCloud. The website of the seniors’ work was launched in April.
Fine Arts Chair and Photography Professor Bob Smith commended the women for “making real, practical and professional what they learned in their junior year Professional Practices class. The catalog is both a memory piece and a tool for marketing the seniors’ work.”
Lara Ohland
Describing the catalog as resource for the Milwaukee art and professional communities, the college and the participating 18 artists, Ohland and Tarman began their efforts with their classmates in early fall 2010.
“As part of our education, we are building a path to making ourselves known as artists. We wanted to take that a step further,” said Ohland.
She and Tarman presented a full project proposal, received some funding from the college, and then moved ahead with their peers to donate their own funds, sell baked goods and raise money through a collaborative print sale with alumni.
Both agreed the creative group process of selecting work to include in the catalog was the most exciting, and the most challenging.
Rose Tarman
“We set up a big wall,” said Tarman, “and put up all the images. We talked about them for days. It was an intensely physical, visual process to get the catalog the way we wanted it.
“Our hope is that the project will become part of the thesis curriculum. We are able to leave some of the money we raised for next year, and several juniors who helped us with the web site seem interested.”
A release party for the catalog was held on Friday, May 6, 5 — 8 p.m., at the Irish Pub, 124 N. Water Street.
Learn more about MIAD’s Photography program.
