Grad Gallery by Richelle Swinkels

The Grad Gallery
by Richelle Swinkels

This is my second experience hanging my work publicly, however, this is much different than the last. Last time I had one image featured amongst my fellow student's other photographs. Although this time I'm still among my fellow graduating students, I had a wall of my own featuring 7 of what I feel are my strongest images. 

There is no feeling that compares to seeing others observe your work! The first time, when I was simply just setting up my exhibit people passing by would stop and look, not even realizing I was present. Seeing them point, and hearing them mention how "cool" something was had a completely different feeling. I felt so proud and accomplished knowing that my work was interesting enough to get people to stop and look!

The night of the actual event it went from one or two people stopping by to enjoy my work to multiples! I tried to stop and talk to many of the viewers, ask them which pieces were their favorite and what they thought. To my surprise so many people were interested and appreciated the thought and concepts behind them. Some viewers read way more into them than others, which I loved, and others just liked them for their surface visual qualities. Having on-goers call my work "dope", "neat", "different" and "intriguing" makes me feel like I am one step closer  to accomplishing my goal and knowing that I am on the right track. There was one woman in particular who pulled me aside and told me how much my work hit home with her. Having someone love my work enough to seek me out in a crowd and express it to me, meant so much to me! I want my work to move people, to inspire people, to touch their souls. 

Even after the show my positivity ran strong. Have numerous people recognize models in my work and get a hold of them to mention not only seeing but admiring my work kept the joy of the gallery going. Having more and more people seeing my art, outside of just the few friends I have on Facebook or the students in class, was a new feeling, but I liked it! 

Of course with work like mine I saw some confused and disgusted faces, even heard it called "disturbing", but it didn't burst my bubble. My work isn't for everyone, and I know that. The positive responses I got was all I needed, to know that some people did appreciate and understand what I was trying to say is motivation to keep going and work to accomplish my goals with my photography. All in all the Grad Gallery was an amazing experience! I can't wait to get my work featured somewhere again.

For those interested my work will still be featured in the Kress Gallery located at 808 W. Main, in the River Park Square Mall on the 3rd Floor behind the food court, for the entire month of June. Feel free to check it out! To check out more images from my galleries check me out on my new Facebook page Darkness of the Mind Photography.