BFA

Growing up, music was an ever-present influence in my life. It was everywhere in my childhood. From a documentary about a band on the television when I came home from school, my father practicing his drumming in his spare time, or the random musical quizzes being thrown at me as soon as I walked into the living room, it was impossible to escape. My passion for music only deepened over time, especially after experiencing the raw energy of live concerts. The sound, the thrill, the connection with others in the crowd was electrifying, and it sparked a lifelong obsession. When middle school came, so did another hobby: photography. I got started the same way any child does; I saw something, wanted to remember it, and snapped a picture. Landscapes, architecture, random people just walking down the street. There wasn’t anything I wasn’t willing to snap a quick photograph of if it caught my eye. High school’s insistence that you set your career path so young helped me realize that it was something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. As I thought about how to turn a hobby into a career, I ended up attending a Harry Styles concert, watching the photographer capture the energy of the crowd and the musicians solidified my desire to blend my love for music with my photography. That moment told me exactly what I wanted to do: concert photography. For my BFA project, I focused on capturing the atmosphere at Merrimans' Playhouse, a local jazz venue in South Bend. The open sessions, filled with both regulars and a rotating cast of musicians, provided the perfect setting for my work. Stephen and Mary Merriman, the owners, welcomed me into space, and their personal connection with the photographers they have worked with added a sense of community that deeply influenced my own approach. The music here, ever shifting from smooth to energetic, mirrored my creative journey, and I sought to capture that dynamic through my lens. After the process of getting the photos taken was done, I transformed four of them into silk screen posters. I drew inspiration from 1970’s band posters. The bright colors and faded designs of that era resonate with me, reflecting my deep love for the music of the '60s and '70s. The worn, beloved look of these posters speaks to the nostalgia and authenticity I feel in both the music and the venue. The posters reflect not just my aesthetic but also the spirit of Merrimans — where the music and the people create an energy that’s both timeless and fresh. That is how I decided to make my posters in that style because it not only fits with me as an artist but who I am personally. This also compliments the atmosphere at Merrimans, as the music there can bounce from calm and easy listening to a fast-paced, upbeat rhythm and tempo in just a few moments.