Artist Monique Verdin captures effects of Katrina through photography exhibit

    The smell of dirty water and washed up debris are the only things missing in Monique Michelle Verdin’s art exhibit, Louisiana Left Behind, at Blackbridge Hall Gallery.
    Thursday, Jan. 11th, students spilled out into the hallways to listen as the artist spoke, some armed with paper and pens, others with faces of emotion or intrigue.
    Several spectators were brought to tears during Verdin’s moving story telling of the impact from Hurricane Katrina on south Louisiana, her hometown, and her family. While she lived in Florida for most of her teenage years, she returned to 2824 Bayou Rd. to water her Cajun roots and explore her passion for photography art.
    However, Verdin’s exploration was not only in memory of her personal post-Katrina experience, but to raise awareness of the devastation left behind from the wrath of nature and its detrimental environmental effects. The exhibit was done to raise environmental, social, and cultural concern for the issues.
    “This is happening to people I know and it’s appalling,” Verdin said. “It is something we should all care about.”
    Her mission was accomplished as freshman and art history major, Holly Winner, admired Verdin’s ability to, “educate people through her passion in photography.” This also benefited Winner because it demonstrated, “by being in the art department at Georgia College and State University I can continuously expand my horizons.”
    Kimberly O’Toole, a freshman English major, also appreciated the exhibit.
    “It was very emotional and creative; her methods of presenting her works were unorthodox and memorable.” O’Toole said.  The photo box coffins were obviously hand crafted out of remaining yard signs and effectively brought a harsh reality to the overall presence of the exhibit.
    “The photography really drove it home for me and helped me realize how important it is to view the world macroscopically,” O’Toole said.
    Verdin used the photography as evidence to capture the destruction and realistic harm of Hurricane Katrina. “It is very real to me, this is a part of my now, my family. (The photography) helped us frame this aftermath,” Verdin said.
Beyond her personal suffering with the loss of her father and her close friend, there lies a highly significant political message within her art.
    “My story has so many pieces,” Verdin said, “that lead back to policy gone wrong.”
    The Louisiana Left Behind exhibition will be running through February. O’Toole insists visiting because, “It is a very humbling, eye-opening experience with excellent photography and poignant imagery.”
    “There is so much beauty in the tragedy; you can’t have one without the other.”
     Despite the turmoil and pain reflected in Verdin’s exhibit, she demonstrates potential and hope through the wreckage.
    “The (photos) aren’t perfect and life isn’t either. It’s always been about a story, not a beautiful revered piece of art. I am dedicated to this because this is my life,” said Verdin.

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Jan 19 2007. Filed under Features. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry