After viewing Regarding Place: Photo Media Invitational Wednesday night I walked across the street to attend a lecture by Angela Kelly.

In her lecture, Catharsis: Images of Post Conflict Belfast 2010-­11, Angela started out talking about her past work including Image/Text, Compass Rose, Famine series, Domestic Discomfort, and Sundays at Sea. Then, she moved on to her current series Catharsis which is on view in Regarding Place. I remember her sharing this work years ago when I was at RIT (she was one of my professors), and was happy to hear her talk about the projects again now that I have seen her current project.

Catharsis combines family photos, recent photographs taken in Belfast, and text elements (geographic locations). Angela’s work is personal, it has been for decades. I thought it was interesting listening to her talk about the challenge of making the personal photograph public. With Catharsis for example by juxtaposing the old and new photographs and giving the geographic location, she invites the viewer to participate in the work.

Listening to Angela speak about her photographic practice spanning decades was truly inspiring. She is so passionate about her work and is still excited to continue making. I left the lecture hall ready to get to work!