Artist Spotlight: Jalen Gornek
Juried exhibitions 2018 grand prize winner
February 4, 2019
- What type of art class or classes are you involved in?
I am mostly involved in editing and photography, I switch from digital to film. I currently have two cameras, a 35mm film camera, and a Nikon D3000.
- What instigated this desire?
I used to live in Pennsylvania. We lived near a small mountain and a forest while I was still in middle school. Photography developed from that wooded solitude and I just started to immerse my time into capturing pictures. I have one specific memory of just walking out of my house and taking pictures of everything I saw. I walked along this muddy path and remember finding this cool insect on a tree. I took that photo and have been in love ever since.
- How often are you working on your art?
It mainly depends on how much I work and the week. Although I think if there is any small plateau that I have reached it’s been because of my time in NA. If you have been in one place too long it can become difficult to take new pictures.
- What is your best piece?
Every four years they do a juried exhibition of art and in that competition, I believe then that I submitted my best work. Last year the theme was violins, I took flowers and placed them all along a violin. That’s how I started to get recognition, through contests. I just actually entered a scholastic writing and art competition. I submitted some photos of Chicago on 35mm film.
- Why is this your best photo?
The violin photo captures what I am good at, which is editing. I believe that taking a photo is equally important as editing it. There has never been a photo that did not need a little editing.
- What do you hope to improve?
I hope to improve on my geographic reach, where I take photos specifically. I want the places I reach to grow and my work to as well.
- Where do you see yourself in the next five years and what do you hope for careerwise?
After high school, I hope to go to KY school of art and design. Anything past that I am unsure, wherever I go I just want to reach new people and develop new experiences. I have given some thought to going out west.