Amy James illuminates natural beauty of human portrait

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By Chris Shearman

Few people view the world through the eyes of a photographer. Local writer, artist and photographer (and LSU alumna) Amy James is an exception. For over 20 years, James has used her camera to trace her unique vision of the beauty inside and outside of each subject.

James' latest show, Reflections, which will display black and white photos from her collection, will open with a reception at Baton Rouge Gallery on Wednesday, July 1 and will run through July 30.

Influenced most heavily by LSU Professor Tom Neff, James graduated from LSU with a minor in drawing but, since a young age, had an uncanny interest in the other side of things.

"I had Barbies when I was younger, but mostly so I could decorate their houses," James admitted. "I'd get moss and make shag carpet and pull the ends off of Doritos and make bowls of chips for Barbie and Ken to eat. My junior year of high school, I spent the whole year in a full body cast, and so my mom brought me some drawing materials."

"Then she bought me my first camera - a Minolta SR201 - and I became the yearbook photographer," James continued. "When I got to LSU, I was majoring in graphic design and my Mom said, 'you hate graphic design,' and so I switched to painting and drawing."

Though James has a permanent display in Dallas and has been featured on billboards, she is not concerned with stacking up accomplishments as much as she is her art causing a reaction.

"I want people to ask what's going on here? What's the story here? I want the images to stick with them," James elaborated. "I'm working on an art book - a book of my portraits and writings. I'm going to retake pictures of people I photographed years ago and do it in the same location and document the changes. It's amazing how some of the environments have changed. A landscape may now be an urban situation."

James also serves as the Artist Liaison for the Baton Rouge Gallery, the oldest co-op run gallery in the city.

"A few years ago I had the feeling I needed to get out of town, like I needed to move somewhere," James shared on living in Baton Rouge. "I hate to say it, but when Katrina hit, it changed everything. And suddenly why would I want to go to New York or wherever and be nobody when I'm on the brink of something new and big here?"

The aforementioned show, Reflections, will run through the end of July at Baton Rouge Gallery located at 1442 City Park Avenue. For more information on Amy James, please visit AmyJamesPhoto.com.

Originally Published: Issue 806 - July 1, 2009

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