Stranger Prayer
Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Type: Other Projects
CASTING CALL
PERFORMANCE ART FOR A CONCEPTUAL PHOTOGRAPHY SERIES
BY ARTIST JENNIFER THORESON
TYPE: STILL PHOTOGRAPHY
DATES: JANUARY-AUGUST 2022
LOCATION: NEW MEXICO
SEEKING:
Individuals of any age, gender, ethnicity, nationality, religion &
belief system who are interested in exchanging prayers,
meditations, positive thoughts, or blessings with another
randomly selected individual from this casting call.
USE: Photographic prints and reproductions will be used in
exhibitions, art journals, art-related websites and online publications.
COMMITMENT: Photoshoots will last 2-3 hours in length.
Full Vaccination or Negative Covid Test Required.
No previous art or acting experience required.
Please read the project description for more information about the work.
To view a portfolio of past work, visit www.jenniferthoreson.com
PROJECT DESCRIPTION:
My work mostly centers conceptually around faith and religious practices, belief systems, and spirituality. I make large-scale installation works, sculptures, and photographs that explore these themes. Lately, especially with the current state of the world, I’ve been particularly interested in the peaceful intersection of varied faith systems, and in representing these momentary junctures using photography.
I plan to make a series of images that document the meeting of two strangers who are randomly paired. I will collect the names of volunteers who want to take part, write their names on slip of paper, and pull two names from a jar to form each randomized pairing. Participants will spend a bit of time in conversation, then offer a blessing, meditation, or prayer for one another. I will make several photographs of the interchange, mostly documentary in style, with minimal staging and direction. I hope to create a series of photographs from the documentation 30 unique parings of people.
My hope is that participants will come from all sorts of belief systems with a curiosity and desire to connect and offer genuine kindness and compassion to one another. Each person is welcome to disclose their beliefs, though that isn’t required. Blessings or prayers may be communicated however each participant wishes–spoken or silent, written down, conveyed through touch or gesture, dance, chant, song, ritual, or meditation. It is important that participants are respectful of one another’s beliefs and attend the meeting without intention to persuade others.
TO SUBMIT:
Please email the following information to jenniferbthoreson@gmail.com
Name
Name of Parent or Guardian if under 18
Age
Email Address
City of Residence
Phone Number
Recent photograph or headshot
A full body image if you have one
Feel free to share any information about your faith or belief system, though this is not required for participation.
Due to the philanthropic nature of the project, I prefer not to offer payment for participation, as it changes the motive and message of the work. However, I am happy to offer new headshots or portraits as a gift in appreciation for your time and commitment.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Jennifer B. Thoreson is a photographer, teacher, lecturer, and mother of two boys who lives and works in Albuquerque, NM. She holds an MFA from the University of New Mexico. Her work is heavily metaphorical, and delves into the nuances of human relationships, human fragility, and the ephemeral, temporary nature of human life. Through her exploration of questions surrounding faith and religious practices, she critically conceptualizes different themes to produce images rich in allegory, engaging with her viewers as they question and explore the themes for themselves. The complexity of her work is rooted in her practice. She carefully orchestrates each image by manipulating symbolic materials, constructing site specific installations and sculptures, and meticulously staging every scene to imbue each element, from the smallest to the largest, with meaning and significance. The elements and spaces she fabricates and captures in her images play as important a role in her art as the finished photographs themselves.
Jennifer’s work has gained an international audience through inclusion in museum and gallery exhibitions, spanning the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, China, Russia, Australia, France, Switzerland, Lithuania, and the United Kingdom. Her work is held in museum collections at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Musee de l’Elysee, Switzerland; and has been shown in numerous solo and group exhibitions, including at the Houston Center for Photography (solo), the Blue Sky Gallery (solo), and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Jacksonville, FL (group). In addition, her work has been published worldwide, in well-known publications, including Black and White Magazine, Diffusion Magazine, and Installation Magazine. In 2011, a monograph of her work, entitled Medic, was published. Awards include Photo Star Award (Kaunas, Lithuania); International Center of Photography (ICP) Leadership Medallion; Photolucida Book Award; Residency at the Santa Fe Art Institute, and the Franks Memorial Grant.
Payment: Non Paid
City or Location of call: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Please submit to: jenniferbthoreson@gmail.com
TO SUBMIT: Please email the following information to jenniferbthoreson@gmail.com Name Name of Parent or Guardian if under 18 Age Email Address City of Residence Phone Number Recent photograph or headshot A full body image if you have one Feel free to share any information about your faith or belief system, though this is not required for participation. Due to the philanthropic nature of the project, I prefer not to offer payment for participation, as it changes the motive and message of the work. However, I am happy to offer new headshots or portraits as a gift in appreciation for your time and commitment.
This casting notice was posted by: Jennifer Thoreson