Iowa Heritage Digital Collections
State Library of Iowa

Roadside

Roadside

Title

Roadside

Description

Andrew Crooks is an Iowan artist who earned his B.F.A. degree in Fine Art Photography at the University of Northern Iowa in the Spring of 2005. He is represented in the permanent art collections of Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center and Rod Library, UNI. Crooks will enter graduate school in the Fall of 2005 to pursue an M.F.A. in Photography at the University of New Mexico.
When a person encounters a photograph, they often think of it as an impartial record of fact. It is my belief that, even when the photograph seems to show unequivocal truth, it's purpose or meaning can be shaped by the photographer. Things may not be as they seem. I express this idea by mixing painted backdrops, three-dimensional props, and real life subjects. The backdrops act as a synthesized reality, juxtaposed with real-life objects and people. The organic, human presence in these photographs provides contrast to the synthetic backdrops, pulling your eyes back and forth between natural and contrived elements. The sober expressions on people's faces contrast my overt, sometimes hokey props and brightly colored backdrops. Unlike some images that try passing a contrivance off for truth, I amplify the contrast between the two worlds. By mixing reality with fiction, I highlight the maker's power to shape an image, and ultimately create a new reality.

Creator

Crooks, Andrew

Publisher

University of Iowa. School of Art and Art History

Date

2004
2005-10-17

Rights

Digital collection © The University of Iowa. All works are copyright the individual artist.

Relation

The Daily Palette Digital Collection
Visual Arts
http://dailypalette.uiowa.edu/?artwork=644
http://www.andrewcrooks.com/

Format

20
24
chromogenic color prints

Type

Still image
Chromogenic color prints

Identifier

10172005.jpg
183409339
https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/