Discovering Place: Images from the St. Edward’s University Documentary Photography Project

On view in the David Earl Holt Photo Gallery November 5, 2019 – January 19, 2020

Preparation for the Sticky Rice Ceremony, Sitagu Buddha Vihara. Photo by Ariah Alba. AR.2019.026(003)

The St. Edward's University Austin Documentary Photography Project is a partnership between St. Edward's University and the Austin History Center. During the spring 2019 semester, Joseph Vitone, Professor of Photography and Media Arts, led the “City of Austin Documentary Photography Project” course (PHCO-3322.01) where students chose documentary subjects in the Austin/Travis County area. As city documentarians, the students learned how to create visually engaging and intellectually challenging stories of the people and places of Austin, Texas, as well as developed interview skills with their human subjects to write compelling captions.

The partnership resulted in the St. Edward's University Austin Documentary Photography Project Collection (AR.2019.026), consisting primarily of digital photographs documenting various facets of the Austin area community as selected by the student photographers. In addition to the photographs, project statements from each of the photographers summarize their experience interviewing and documenting their subjects of interest. Themes represented in the photographs include housing and urban development, particularly on Burnet Road, changing demographics, arts and culture, funerary practices including natural burial, and youth addiction recovery. Photographs not on exhibit are available for viewing in the AHC’s Reading Room during open hours.

Projects:

Project 1: How Austin Worships, Photographer: Ariah Alba
Project 2: Funeral Services in Austin, TX, Photographer: Sabrina Amezcua
Project 3: Brewing Up Austin, Photographer: Brayden Armstrong
Project 4: How Austin Eats, Photographs by Cassidie Cox
Project 5: The Facades and Development of Burnet Rd., Photographs by Ryan Cunningham
Project 6: Small Theaters in Austin, Texas, Photographs by Kaitlyn Dawson
Project 7: Exposed, Photographs by Deniz Girismen
Project 8: Limestone, Photographs by Joey Hadden
Project 9: Youth Recovery in Austin, Texas, Photographs by Ashley McGrain
Project 10: Burnet Development, Photographs by Sean Pierce
Project 11: Film and the Ritz, Photographs by Mauro Ruiz
Project 12: New Austin, Photographs by Anna Skelley