Jess Koehler, La Palabra de Los Ninos
August 1-28, 2009
Jess Koehler, Student of Jorazu, Digital prints on Epson Velvet fine art paper mounted on wood panels Courtesy of the Artist
Jess Koehler, No Weapon Formed Against Me Shall Prosper, Digital prints on Epson Velvet fine art paper mounted on wood panels Courtesy of the Artist
La Palabra de Los Ninos (The Voice of the Children) La Palabra de Los Ninos (The Voice of the Children) is Koehler’s collection of work that spans the globe from Honduras to the West Indies, Cuba to Mexico, and also includes Zambia. This current body of work is an exploration of various impoverished children who are not only connected by latitudinal region, but by the similar struggles they face. Amongst other things, Ms. Koehler has recently concentrated on children that have become orphaned due to the HIV/AIDS virus that has been growing within these developing countries. Her social photojournalistic approach moves us from a mere onlooker to actually feeling engaged by the emotions conveyed in the images. Whether it is a simple gaze off into the distance or the feet of what appears to be three friends on a bench, we are impacted by the power that lies within the composition of each piece. The cinematic lighting, and more importantly the stars of each frame, the children, hold our attention with such power and grace. If the intention of an artist is to provide an echo of another’s voice, then Koehler has done a marvelous job of not only documenting the children’s stories but of capturing a resilience that resonates deep within us all, and that shows promise for an up and coming artist.
About the Artist Jess Koehler, an artist and social photojournalist, documents human conflict and strife in the world, not to sensationalize the stories but to re-tell them in a dignified manner. Koehler’s dedication as a photographer began in high school back in central New York, at the base of the Adirondack Mountains, and has continued since. She is the first in her family to attend college, graduating from Rochester Institute of Technology with a BFA in Advertising Photography. She has made Los Angeles her home because of its rich diversity and global impact as a leading metropolitan city that continues to influence the world with its art and culture.
www.curiositysavedthehuman.com
