Lora Brody
Sisters
My images explore relationships between sisters, opening a window into their personal narratives. Sisters have a unique relationship; they grow up in reference to one another, individuals, but tied by family. Having grown up without sisters of my own, I envy and admire the bond that unites them. I find them fascinating to observe. Photographing sisters together not only provides opportunities to capture the range of their interaction, but puts them at ease in my presence
Looking for a revealing moment in these life-long relationships, I typically offer prompts such as, “think of a secret your sister doesn’t know,” or, “what does being angry at each other look like?” I observe the interaction- a sober look, a sly glance, a teasing gesture – waiting for whatever self-consciousness there might be to dissolve and what I perceive as an honest moment to happen. Usually, the interaction is between the sisters, but occasionally it’s with me, which begs the question of have I inserted myself into the picture?
Even though I take the pictures with a digital camera I want the end result to reflect the intimacy and chemistry that my subjects allow me to witness during each photoshoot.
I print my photographs using ziatype, an alternative, photographic process that produces a three-dimensional quality reminiscent of nineteenth century images. The messy borders, a result of brushing light-sensitive solutions on special, heavy-weight artist paper, broadcast that I had a hand in creating the print beyond capturing the image
Artist Bio
Portrait artist Lora Brody creates opportunities for her subjects to tell stories through self- presentation, and for the viewer to interpret them. Brody’s hand-made ziatype prints of contemporary subjects have a three dimensional, timeless quality are reminiscent of nineteenth century images made before the advent of both silver gelatin and digital media.
Brody’s images have been exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, The Griffin Museum of Photography, Harvard University, and The Provincetown Art Association and Museum. Her pictures hang in the Red Sox Corporate Office and other private collections. The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine has published her images both as cover photographs and a photo essay. Awards include a PX3 Prix de la Photographie, Paris, and the Gold Medal in the 2014 San Francisco International Photography Exhibition.
Brody, an Affiliated Scholar at the Brandeis University Women’s Studies Research Center, created the Reunion Project, which uses photography and the written word to explore seniors’ self-perceptions about aging while giving them a voice to connect to younger generations.