Murray State's Digital Commons

Collection Title

GraciLou Ackerman Undergrad Photography Collection

Author/Artist Name

GraciLou AckermanFollow
GraciLou Ackerman, Murray State University

Files

Academic Level at Time of Creation

Senior

Date of Creation

Spring 5-4-2021

Artist Statement

Days go by, rain comes and goes; buildings are built, occupied and abandoned. Walls that were once so vibrant with life are eventually silent. Generations upon generations witness the same subject with different eyes, perspective, and time. Minds are stimulated with excitement through the curiosity of our senses. Restoration and revitalization are a necessity to honor the enchantment that has once taken place. Constructing an infinite memory out of a perennial location is the goal to be achieved throughout the artwork.

I use photography, collage, and audio recordings to remember the industrial infrastructures that once held such importance. The now unoccupied spaces are brought into a contemporary context through my process of photographing the texture, linear pattern, and geometric depth still alive in these abandoned buildings, then collaging and abstracting the fragments. Audio recordings of industrial sounds familiar to my childhood home life add a third dimension. My work brings new life, in a new era, to these mostly overlooked shapes and forms.

Personal influences were cultivated within the small, blue-collar county of Carmi, Illinois; a town full of fleeting dreams. The remote town forced creativity and appreciation to be pushed beyond the stereotypical. One child might find peace, beauty, and comfort in the subway, or surfing in the ocean; however, for me, it was found in my own back yard. Watching my father work in his collapsing metal shop with his worn-out equipment. Waking up to the sound of a diesel engine running, a chain rustling, or an air pump accelerating might displease a stranger but to me, it is a lullaby and alarm clock. This is what I call home.

Advisor/Mentor

Michelle Burdine, Mike Martin, Dr. Antje Gamble

Description

Digital Prints, Sizes Varying, Photo-collages, Photographs

Recommended Citation

Ackerman, GraciLou and Ackerman, GraciLou, "GraciLou Ackerman Undergrad Photography Collection" (2021). Professional Practices (ART 399). 107.
https://digitalcommons.murraystate.edu/art399/107