About the Project
Vanderbilt Self-Portrait” is a photography project that aims to capture the image and essence of Vanderbilt through the faces of its community members. As part of this project, fellows photographed students, faculty, and staff, as well as the environments in which they study, work, and relax.
Of note, the Portrait project was also awarded the Chancellor Office’s Sesquicentennial Grant. Marking the 150th anniversary of Vanderbilt University, this project plans to serve as a time capsule that captures what it means to be a part of the Vanderbilt community. The hope is that the present community will be able to use this project to reflect on itself, and for future generations to understand the significance of what it means to be a Commodore.
Using a variety of formats, Fellows engaged in several photo sessions, near campus, outdoor and indoor. Sessions were advertised on different social media platforms to invite members of the Vanderbilt community to join and have their portrait taken. The photo sessions took place during the daytime, where communities like students, professors, and cleaning/dining hall staff could be photographed, and at nighttime, when the residential college security, VUPD, and students could be photographed. In addition to portraits, students also documented the buildings of Vanderbilt and the neighborhood around.
Throughout the semester, students explored historical photographic portraiture and yearbooks, as preserved in the Libraries’ Special Collections, and contributed to an art gallery exhibition, as well as a photo book that can be preserved in the library archive.
Mentors
Vesna Pavlovic; Yvonne Boyer
Fellows
Allen Zeng, Sydney Featherstone, Maya Antoine, Richard Zhang, Sally Shi, Sheeko Ndegwa, Luge Yao, Yiwei Wang, Warren Gignac
Project
The Vanderbilt Self Portrait project was displayed on exhibit on the 4th floor of the Central Library with a corresponding digital exhibit.