James Kerney Campus Gallery (JKCG) to Host “The Mark and the Memory” Photo Exhibit June 21 to Sept. 17
(6/17/21)
Trenton, N.J. – Mercer County Community College’s (MCCC's) James Kerney Campus Gallery (JKCG) announces the opening of “The Mark and the Memory,” an exhibit that explores the role of photography in documenting and processing trauma. Curated by Ryann Casey, an MCCC adjunct professor and independent curator, the exhibition runs from June 21 through September 17. Two Opening Receptions, both virtual and in-person, will take place from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, June 21. A Closing Reception will take place September 14.
The exhibition examines how the photographic medium uses history, intervention, and self-documentation to address and respond to traumatic experiences. It will include artist interviews, a catalog, and a virtual tour.
Participating artists include Terry Boddie, Renée C. Byer, Chrystofer Davis, Tim Dill, Emily Fuhrmann, Paul Kitagaki Jr., Heidi Kirkpatrick, Hannah Kozak, Bridget Laudien, Diana Markosian, Camilla Martineli, Janelle Wilson, Tamara Torres, and artists from the Odyssey Project (Nathan Maybee, Chris Veltri, Erica Duncan, and Brianna Robinson.
The exhibition features an introductory essay by Kate Spiller, who has a M.Ed. in Organizational Development and B.A. in Film & Media Arts, both from Temple University. According to Spiller, “Trauma is tricky because it’s often inconsistent in how it shows up in ourselves and in others. In the work I do as a transformative mediator, I see all types of trauma and I’m constantly reminded of how hard it can be to move forward. I hear stories from survivors who carry pain, shame, sadness, anger, a desire for revenge, helplessness...all these complicated feelings that a person needs to sort through all while living their day-to-day experience. Additionally, the person who inflicted harm is also carrying trauma. They can get stuck in spirals of shame, self-hate, and uncertainty around how to move forward if they haven’t taken accountability for past harm and/or are terrified they might inflict it again.”
Casey has been involved in a series of exhibits devoted to grief, loss, and trauma. “These shows in some ways are shedding a light, making people more comfortable talking about it,” Casey said. “When you have this [traumatic] event [in your life], you don’t see things in the same way. When you lose somebody, within a second you become a different person. It changes how you look at the world, the lens you look through is different.”
Michael Chovan-Dalton is the director of the JKC Gallery. This exhibition is part of an ongoing series of guest-curated exhibitions and talks intended to increase the diversity of voices represented at the gallery.
JKCG is in MCCC's Trenton Hall, 137 North Broad Street, across the street from the Kerney Building. Gallery hours are by appointment only. Please email jkcgallery@mccc.edu to request a visit.
