Karen Copeland, St. Gabriel, Louisiana 28 - 1999

Curator: Let’s take a look at Deborah Luster's portrait, "Karen Copeland, St. Gabriel, Louisiana," made around 1999, a gelatin silver print that’s part of a larger series. What strikes you first about this work? Editor: The somber tone, definitely. The light feels very constrained, almost as if illuminating a memory. I'm drawn to the pendant the woman is wearing. It has a familial, comforting significance amidst the overall austerity. Curator: That austerity is central. Luster's work often deals with institutional environments and marginalized communities, especially through the documentation of individuals connected to the criminal justice system. There is an interest in process apparent in the surface itself; look at how the silver gelatin reveals a tangible history of development. Editor: So you’re saying this visual “somberness” is directly linked to the subject and production process itself? Interesting, since for me the almost-sepia tone enhances that sense of something remembered, calling forth, as it does, a longer lineage of photographic portraiture connected to loss and commemoration. This echoes through her wearing of an ID tag clipped to her smock as almost like another form of adornment. Curator: Exactly! The medium here – a relatively traditional photographic print – acts as a way to both elevate and somewhat normalize this subject. By using this method, the artwork draws her likeness into collective consciousness. Think of the socio-economic conditions evident in even the woman's clothing. The V-neck shirt feels like the uniform of labor itself. Editor: And that uniform juxtaposes strangely with that beautiful necklace and simple gold hoops, giving this work its real resonance, wouldn't you agree? What might on the surface look mundane speaks volumes of aspiration amidst circumstance. It also makes one consider: how does this specific region of Louisiana influence how the subject regards the interplay between family values, individual expression and self presentation? Curator: Absolutely, those details are key. Luster brings these lives into view with respect, and an acknowledgement of difficult contexts. Editor: In effect, a quiet yet strong testimony etched in silver. Curator: A convergence of process and social commentary, rendering it a powerful artifact.