Title of original collection: Create

Abstract:  Create is an exploration of what makes artists create and why each chose his or her specific medium. The photo story features seven students who specialize in an array of media and includes a portrait of each alongside an action shot of the subject in his or her creative space. An accompanying short film documents each interview and artist at work. For the subjects featured in Create, the most common reason for creating is that it is far easier for the individuals to express themselves through art than through speech or writing. While their media vary, art is a vehicle of expression that allows them to share emotion, point of view, and ideas.

Keywords: creativity, expression, photography, Vuhlandes (photographer), interview

Body:  Over the past two years, videography and photography have transformed from a minor interest of mine into my future career. Creativity has become a huge part of my life and is one of the most important things to me. I make videos and take photos because it allows me to show my perspective of the world and communicate in a way in which I feel most comfortable and that I feel I am most effective. I have always been a visual and computer-smart person, so video and photo are the perfect fit for me. I have absolutely no idea what I would be studying or doing with my life if I had not started watching Premiere Pro tutorials two years ago and purchased a camera soon after. 

For Create I wanted to explore what makes other creatives create and why they chose their specific media. I was curious to know what drives them and why they create in the way that they choose to.

I interviewed and photographed seven different students who specialize in an array of media. I met with each person in their creative space — the place where they do most of their creating whether it be their dorm room, the outdoors, or a studio. While with each person, I asked them two questions, “Why do you create?” and “Why did you chose your specific primary medium?” For the photo story, I took portraits of each person as well as photos of them doing what they do whether it be playing guitar, drawing, or creating a song on their computer. I filmed each interview and each subject while creating. In addition, I made a short film documenting each interview and each creative at work.

I chose the students that I featured in this project after seeing or hearing their work during my time at St. Lawrence. I aimed to feature people who specialize in a variety of media, and luckily for me, St. Lawrence has plenty of artists to pick from.

For example, during my first two years on campus, I had heard so much about Will Millerchip because whenever someone found out that I was interested in videography, they would ask me if I had met Will. I hadn’t until the fall of 2020 when I moved into Commons College, where Will has lived for the past few years. Will and I got to know each other and also began working together for University Communications, creating video content for the SLU website and social media accounts. I knew he would be a great fit for this project.

In the case of Hana Bushara, how could I not have heard her sing in my first two years at St. Lawrence? She is well known on campus as a very talented singer and songwriter. I was first introduced to Hana as a freshman when my friend was playing show with her at Java and he asked me to make a video of their performance. After meeting Hana, we became friendly and I always knew that I wanted to work with her on some project in the future. This seemed like the perfect opportunity.

I first met Allie Arruda not as creative meeting creative, but as student meeting student. Last spring, we had a Western film course together and became friendly through mutual friends that we had in the class. I knew that she was an avid ceramist, but this fall she also began to work as a tattoo artist. I knew I would have to feature Allie, as tattoo art is such a unique medium that it would be a valuable addition to the project.

After completing this project, it was clear to me that people create for their own reasons, but there is a shared motivation. For the subjects featured in Create, the most common reason for creating is that it is far easier for the individuals to express themselves through art than through speech or writing. While their media vary, for the creatives featured in this project, art is a vehicle of expression that allows them to share emotion, point of view, and ideas.