from the
Virginia Beach Center for the Arts Catalogue, January 1995
"OPEN SHUTTERS: Photographic Impressions by African-Americans
in Hampton Roads"
PROJECT PHOTOGRAPHERS� STATEMENT
R."KELLY" WILLIS, Freelance Photographer
Park Place, Norfolk
For me, "Open Shutters" defines a spiritual desire to help others experience the
love I have for photography. This project has been one of the many pinnacles I hope
to climb as a student of the photographic image. As I review my brief ten years at
making images, one thing always seems to remain constant, and that is spirit. As
simple as it may seem, spirit has driven me in an attempt to create images of
quality. To create an image that has meaning and purpose only validates Salvador de
Madariagas�s view on art as the "conveyance of spirit by means of matter." When
Betsy Gough-DiJulio of the Virginia Beach Center for the Arts approached me with
the concept which became "Open Shutters", I felt truly blessed that someone else in
this world was on my wavelength. Through her tireless efforts, this project has
come to fulfillment.
Every project photographer was given the opportunity to record, exhibit, and
publish very special moments in their very special existence. The enthusiasm of
spirit manifested by the participants I worked with, as well as by those in other
groups, greatly bolstered my own determination in proceeding with my own career.
For that I am deeply grateful.
My Park Place group included Thelma Clark, a teacher who truly loves children
and family; Milton Grinage, a recent new father, future psychologist, and my very
good friend; and LaTonya Sanders and D�Marcus "Pete" Clark, two bright and energetic
aspiring young students and possibly future artist-photographers.
Our workshops were very informal and open. Technical aspects included emphasis on
framing the image, camera operation, parts, features, limitations, care, and film
selection, including the relationship of film speed to various lighting situations.
The primary conceptual aspects I covered with my group were the different avenues
available in "seeing": composition, timing, angles of view, and the like; and most
importantly, "vision", or expressing something from within.
The main goal of the workshops was to address individual questions and problems
which resulted in finding solutions to a variety of technical camera operations. I
intentionally left it up to individuals to determine the types of subjects they
wanted to photograph with the results being a wide scope of everyday events. Their
images as a whole reflected family and friends around them in candid glimpses. When
viewing the work created by the photographers of "Open Shutter", Madariagas�s words
are brought to life. Participants demonstrated an enthusiasm of spirit in creating
a body of photographic work that will touch viewers with something familiar and
strong: the art of everyday life.
