National Self Portrait Exhibit

I had the pleasure of exhibiting at 33 Contemporary Gallery during the 7th National Self Portrait Exhibition juried and curated by Sergio Gomez. I have been honored to receive the Award of Excellence in Photography. Check out the exhibit. It runs July 15 to August 13, 2011. Located in the Zhou B Art Center, 1029 W. 35th St., Chicago.

See me on 33 Contemporary's Site.

Also, Check out the exhibition catalog.

Work for Exquisite Corpse begins!

Exquisite Corpse (“cadavre exquis” in French) is an exercise used by Surrealist writers and visual artists to create original writing and images inspired by the unconscious mind. The exercise is based on an old parlor game called Consequences in which players wrote in turn on a sheet of paper, folded it to conceal part of the writing, and then passed it to the next player for another contribution.

Dada and surreal artists such as Andre Breton, Man Ray, Yves Tanguy, Joan Miro, and Max Morise took part in this form of art on a regular basis.

As part of the exhibit, Exquisite Corpse curated by Jenny Lam at the Fulton Street Collective located in Chicago (opening Friday, September 2, 7-10pm), I will have the opportunity to collaborate with two other artists (a photographer and a poet/photographer) to create an Exquisite Corpse. I will be meeting with the artists tomorrow evening to begin collaboration. Starting tomorrow I will have the privilege of adding my name to the above list of artists who have created an exquisite corpse.

I'm not sure what to expect, but I am certain this will be interesting!

"Studio" shoot today!

As I head into the "studio" today (my home has become an example of a living, breathing studio!), I am reflecting on the purpose of this shoot. I would like to draw upon my sarcastic and humorous yet subtly (and sometimes not so subtle!) concupiscent side. If I can manage to encompass all of these aspects into my images, well, then, I'm half way there!

HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO

The role of wife, mother and woman present many challenges in modern society; lines of distinction are ever changing and often grayish and blurred. Have Your Cake and Eat it Too, explores stereotypes and labels that are traditionally and historically exclusive to women. As gender roles fluctuate according to time, culture and economy, this series attempts to challenge the viewer’s idea of the role of women in the 21^st century.

In a tongue-and-cheek style, Have Your Cake and Eat it Too explores the difficulty women of the 21^st century face: managing womanhood, family and career – without losing themselves. By drawing on cultural, historical and photographic references such as Frances Benjamin Johnston’s 1896 Self Portrait, this series attempts to debunk and poke fun at the roles that women have traditionally held as well as those roles they currently hold. As Johnston’s images challenged the roles of women in the Victorian era, Have Your Cake and Eat It Too explores the difficulty women of the 21st century face.

Women have been told that they are nurturers, caregivers, cooks, boo-boo kissers, lunch-packers, home-makers, ageless sex goddesses and bread winners. Woman’s roles aren’t as clear as they once were which has left many with the expectation that they can have it all. Have Your Cake and Eat it Too declares that you can have it all, and you can look good doing it.

Cupcakes and High Heels: It's a Juggling Act

Cupcakes and High Heels: On Being a Woman

“Cup Cakes and High Heels: It's a Juggling Act (Thanks a lot Frances Benjamin Johnston)” by Jennifer Cartolano-Moore is part of a series of works that deal with stereotypes and labels that are traditionally and historically exclusive to women. As gender roles fluctuate according to time, culture and economy, Cartolano-Moore – in a tongue-and-cheek style – attempts to challenge the viewer’s idea of the role of women in the 21st century.

By drawing on historical photographic references such as Frances Benjamin Johnston’s 1896 Self Portrait, Cartolano-Moore attempts to debunk and poke fun at the roles that women have traditionally held as well as those roles that they currently hold. As Johnston’s images challenged the roles of women in the Victorian era, Cartolano-Moore’s images declare the difficulty that women of the 21st century face. The role of wife, mother and woman present many challenges in modern society; lines of distinction are ever changing and often grayish and blurred.

Women have been told that they are nurturers, caregivers, cooks, boo-boo kissers, lunch-packers, home makers, ageless sex goddesses and bread winners. Woman’s roles aren’t as clear as they once were which has left many with the expectation that they can have it all. Cartolano-Moore’s images declare that you CAN have it all, and you can look good doing it.