St. Gabriel, Louisiana 15 - 2000

Curator: Deborah Luster’s "St. Gabriel, Louisiana," a C-print photograph dating from between 15 and 2000, captures a seated woman in a striking pose. Editor: It strikes me as oddly dignified, almost mournful, with its muted palette and direct gaze. The lighting creates such a stark contrast that isolates the sitter from the black background. Curator: The photograph nods to a rich tradition of portraiture. Notice the subject's straw hat and attire, and consider how those elements speak to broader cultural identities in Louisiana, particularly within Black communities. The wide brim offers sun protection from the punishing sun. Editor: Right, and looking at the materials...that wide-brimmed hat is clearly functional, possibly woven from local plant fibers. Her simple clothing seems chosen for utility and perhaps thriftiness. Then you have that odd plastic water bottle and bandage rig! It all communicates resourcefulness. How does the contemporary printing process – the C-print – mediate this tension? Curator: It layers another level, doesn't it? While echoing older photographic techniques, it plants us firmly in the present, forcing a consideration of past and current circumstances shaping the sitter's identity. The water bottle might hint at necessity within contemporary rural environments. Bandages on the same limb perhaps an allusion to past labour in that region. Editor: I’m intrigued by this melding of symbolism and everyday items, and also, the framing is very interesting. A detail of the framing draws me in - it is ever so slightly wonky! Is that a statement, I wonder? To show this woman has more substance than perfection? Curator: Framing, indeed, becomes part of the symbolic construction of the photograph, providing an alternative point of view. Deborah Luster may intentionally juxtapose cultural echoes alongside indicators of everyday struggles. Editor: Ultimately, I come back to thinking about process, this work feels honest and tactile despite its smooth surface. I want to reflect on how those processes reflect the realities and cultural traditions interwoven into everyday existence for her subjects. Curator: Precisely. It makes me think about enduring spirit, resilience etched within the lines of the sitter’s face. It invites the viewer to ponder the legacy woven within each image.