"Hair|Heir" art thesis focuses on the power of memory

School of Art student Stephanie Booth's art thesis focuses on the power of memory through mixed media (photo by Cameron Shuler)

Running from Monday, March 25 until March 29, George Mason University’s School of Art will be showcasing Stephanie Booth’s thesis exhibition, “Hair|Heir” in the Fine Arts Building’s first floor gallery. The exhibit focuses on Booth’s unique blend of mixed media within mediums of photography, video, and fiber art.

Currently a graduate lecturer at Mason and an adjunct professor at Northern Virginia Community College, Booth has spent over two years on her project.

Booth recovered photographs passed down from her grandmother in an attempt to gain a further understanding of her family roots. Photos in the exhibit date back to the late 1880s and 1890s.

Booth briefly summarizes her work as, “Exploring the family narrative through the common theme of hair”.

Booth’s curiosity in the idea began as an interest in themes of memory and the unique power they possess to define our past, present, and future. Through the blend of photography, videography, and hair, Stephanie explores the idea of discovering the undiscoverable.

Booth incorporates video into the project as she reenacts past events recorded on cassette tapes from interviews with family members. Making the video even more personal, Booth has inserted herself into the video and the pictures as a further attempt at connecting herself to the past.

Through speaking with Booth its no surprise that the project has had its ups and downs.

“One of the most difficult aspects was allowing myself enough time for edits and adjustments,” Booth said.

However, as the process draws near, Booth highlights several positive aspects as well.  Booth mentions how over the course of her research she was able to draw unsuspected conclusions and connections.

Just as the project was multi-faceted in artistic mediums, the project was also dynamic in terms of purpose for Booth. Over the course of Booth’s work on the project it became a project of self-discovery while she was also able to explore the roles of different family members as well.