Can you share a bit about your background and the path that led you to becoming an artist?
As a youngster growing up I tagged along with my father who was a feature writer for the local newspaper. He would interview interesting people and I learned to do some photo work. I learned that documentary photography was not the only type of photography but could be used for other purposes. I began at a more mature age often using myself as a model and started using my dreams, fantasies and fears as subject matter. An example of this is in the photo called, A Dream, where I am the model in a staged scene. It is a nightmare where a fire has unexpectedly broken out and is approaching what could become a major disaster.
Your work in Remnants & Renewal is rooted in direct observation, more specifically documenting what remains after the Eaton Fire. What compelled you to capture “living reminders” of these objects, subjects, and moments?
My friend Diane’s house was destroyed in the fire. I visited her property and the surrounding areas and noticed how fascinating the debris was. Metal had been melted into unusual forms. Useful objects became useless objects. I collected these objects and began making assemblages. Not only were these objects amazing but they could have told fascinating stories about their past lives.
Can you talk about a specific piece (or group of works) on view at the gallery and what it represents for you?
I couldn’t let the rocking horse be dumped into the debris truck which the conservation corp was using to haul away trash. To me it was a valuable icon of the fire. One half was burned and melted but the other half was left unscathed. This represented what could happen to all of us in life. Also I imagined the stories of the children who had interacted with it.
What do you hope visitors feel, notice or reflect on when they experience this exhibition?
When people see the exhibition I would hope they would see hope beyond the damage. What the future could mean and how life is so fragile we must appreciate every single moment. Also, I would hope the visitors would look at the charity workers whose cheerfulness and smiles made lives more tolerable after experiencing the sadness and anxiety they had to endure.
About DeAnn Jennings
DeAnn Jennings is a photographer and educator whose work explores identity, self-representation, and lived experience. Born in Manti, Utah, she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of Utah before relocating to Southern California, where her practice evolved through documentary photography of people and communities in Downtown Los Angeles. She later received an M.A. in Art and Photography from California State University, Fullerton, developing staged photographic series including Fears and Phobias and Fruits and Vegetables, in which she often appears as the subject. Jennings taught at L.A. Harbor College for over four decades before retiring, and continues to travel and photograph people from all walks of life. She lives in Glendale’s Adams Hill neighborhood with close ties to her family, including three children and three grandchildren, and community.
Find out more about DeAnn Jennings: deannjenningsphotography.com
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