iPhone. Modern pictures are all digital and easily reproduced, but these old photographs are tactile
and one of a kind. But when I go through the boxes of my mama and daddy’s old family pictures,
each one that was taken was deliberate. Each one captured something beautiful.”
Many hours of Elizabeth’s childhood were spent playing on the land where some of these stories
took place. As a child, she heard bits and pieces of stories, some of family she never knew except in
these stories and images in old photographs. “I was not as concerned that the paintings looked like
the people in the photographs as much as that they ‘felt’ like them. Painting their pictures was a way
for me to connect with them.” And something about that spoke to Elizabeth’s creative soul.
“My mama has always amazed me,” said Elizabeth. “The things she has shouldered with such
strength and grace. She has always given so much of herself and loved her family fiercely. Having
her as my mother makes me want to be a better person every single day. By making this small series
for my Exit Show, I wanted to pay homage to a few of the family members that played an important
role in her personal history.
“Although I never met some of these people, they were still part of my life because their stories
were told and re-told throughout my childhood. They were like my personal celebrities; I loved,
admired, and respected them, but they were always just out of my reach. Over time, their stories
became intertwined into my story. Creating this series became a way to meditate and spend time
with loved ones that were lost.”
Elizabeth graduated from UGA in 2015 with a double major in psychology and studio art with
Hometown Living At Its Best 37