Competition Theme: “Written Language” within the last three (3) years

The image should include some element of a written language – using letters, characters, words, or some portion thereof. All the world’s written languages are acceptable. Compositions can be created or found, real or abstract – although the language elements must not be abstracted beyond recognition. The language elements must be photographed and not added in post-processing – no captions or layers of added text.

Written language is both impactful and beautiful. We can’t help but read it wherever it appears in public spaces – such as on street and shop signs, as well as in our own spaces – such as on books, handwritings, keyboards, labels, etc. The more you look, the more you will see. It draws the eye and may convey more than one meaning depending upon the setting.  

Written language can also be visually appealing in terms of its shapes, patterns, curves, and lines, independent of any linguistic meaning – the language elements that you include do not need to be “read” as text.  This is your chance to make the written language engaging in new ways!

Bio

Peggy Feerick has taught photography for over 40 years and is currently instructing classes for The Smithsonian Associates Studio Arts Program. She retired from George Mason University as Associate Professor and Coordinator of Photography in 2016, with prior teaching at various institutions including the University of New Mexico, Georgetown University, and the University of Pennsylvania. In addition, she was the photo archivist and curator for the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art photographic collection from 1988 to 1994.

She has served as a lecturer, moderator, and conference panelist both locally and nationally. In 1998, she co-authored an article on “Women in Photography” for The Reader’s Companion to U.S. Women’s History. In 1993, she curated “The Telling Image: Portrait Photographs from the Archives of American Art.” This exhibition was shown at the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC, and later traveled to New York City.

Feerick ‘s work is mainly photographic in nature but at times includes the mediums of printmaking and sculpture. Her work is exhibited locally and nationally and represented in both private and public collections. Peggy has received several grants and awards, including a residency at CREAR in Scotland and George Mason’s Mathy Award. She holds a BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology in Photography and MA and MFA in Photography and Art History from the University of New Mexico.

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