Photographs & Essays by Livingston Photographer Lizzie Salacinski
The Danforth Museum of Art (DMA) presents Off-Season, photographs and essays by local resident Lizzie Salacinski. The exhibition will run from April 1st to April 22nd, 2024. The museum will host an opening reception on Friday, April 5th, from 5:30-8:00 pm.
Salacinski, a Livingston native, produced Off-Season as a reflection on their personal experiences of growing up in Livingston, an experience that differed from the typical tourist’s experience in the warm summer months. Salacinski’s work explores often difficult topics through creative non-fiction essays and poems paired with photographs, to spark discussion around universal experiences such as loneliness, healing from abuse and the difficult transition into adulthood and finding personal autonomy.
Salacinski’s photographs and poetry have been nationally exhibited as well as internationally with the Book of Art Gallerium. They have created multiple solo exhibitions for the Exit Gallery in Bozeman MT, and participated as a contributing artist in several regional gallery shows. Salacinski obtained their BA in photography from Montana State University and currently splits their time between completing their master’s degree in art history at MSU and freelancing as a photographer in Gallatin County.
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Who I Say I Am is a Danforth Museum of Art collaboration with Park High School and Lizzie Salacinski.
This exhibit is the final project of a Park High Photo 2 and Photo 3 in-school workshop based on Lizzie Salacinski’s auto-biographical photo essay, Off-Season.
Using their smartphone cameras and the written word, the first objective was to develop each student’s personal narrative voice. The assignment was modeled after a photographic style developed in the 1970s by Stephen Shore on a road trip from Texas to New York. Shore captured a sense of memory and place with pictures of empty streets and abandoned gas stations. The students’ assignment was to find places they once occupied, places from their memory, that tell part of their personal story of growing up in Livingston.
The second objective was to curate four images for a 13 person group exhibit at the DMA. This show offers the students the opportunity to use their own voices to share their stories with the community at large. Through sharing their stories they shape their own identity rather than being defined by others.
Smartphone photography is one of the most readily available art tools to students across a range of economic backgrounds. The DMA-Park High School collaboration has broadened access for teens to participate in personal storytelling opportunities regardless of economic or social barriers.
This project is made possible through funding by Americas Foundation and extensive in-kind support from The Frame Garden.
The receptions are free for all to attend and will feature light refreshments. The DMA is located at 106 North Main Street in downtown Livingston. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 12:00 noon. to 4:00 pm.
Admission is free.
For more information, please contact DMA Executive Director Storrs Bishop:<storrs@thedanforth.org>.