Making Sense
by Vivienne Schandelmeier-Gilgunn
Opening September 20th at TBApm
A collection of photos from the start of my film exploration to now, Making Sense explores my journey as a photographer and human, finding my way through the world through the lens of a camera. The photos I chose for this collection represent a feeling I have been trying to make sense of for a while, the feeling of not knowing where you are going or what you are doing yet still recognizing the beauty in the stillness of the world. Life can be so overwhelming and there is always this pressure to do something meaningful, but who’s to decide what matters and what doesn’t?
For me, my inspiration comes from these moments that some might not think matter at the time or may miss, from taking time to make sense of the world and the things around me through a mindful and open approach. When we take the time to fully let things come to us, we start to understand.
A majority of the works in this collection feature themes of nature and organic forms such as shadows, birds, branches, and ripples, things that seem foreign yet similar to me and my hope is that through my journey with film these things will all make sense one day.
More on Vivienne
by Lyly Nguyen
Photography is art. Through Vivienne Schandelmier-Gilgunn’s lens, it’s a way to capture an authentic moment. As an incoming senior majoring in media arts with a photography concentration at Chatham University, Vivienne spent her summer interning at Wick Monet, documenting local Pittsburgh artists, art festivals, and in-house events. This latest summer exhibition is her largest project and capstone to her internship, working alongside a support team from Neil Martin (Owner, Wick Monet), and Lyly Nguyen (Wick Monet intern).
Inspired by her grandfather, a current photographer, photography has always been close to her heart, taking many inspirations from his work. From often carrying a disposable camera throughout her childhood to shooting with a Canon X-200 Powershot in highschool, Vivienne has been long drawn to the possibilities of capturing memories through pictures as it has grown into her future career path.
“It wasn’t anything crazy, but I’d capture my friends and our lives, the quiet times, the empty times, and just what it was like being a high schooler in those years (I graduated in 2021), and that’s what got me interested in exploring photography in a more serious way.”
Today, she primarily shoots on 35mm film with a Canon EOS Rebel 2000 passed down from her mom. Constantly discovering new approaches to her style as a college student, many of her works centralizes experimentation, particularly the number of exposures she uses per frame.
Mainly, her collection reflects a natural spontaneity. “When I’m out wandering around and letting myself be in the moment, something is always bound to catch my eye instead of constantly looking for something specific to capture,” she says. “It takes a lot of the pressure away from capturing a “good” photo.”
One of Vivienne’s favorite and most memorable photos, within her collection, was a photo featuring geese during a walk at Duck Hollow in Pittsburgh. Specifically, with her own interests with photographing birds, distinct visual elements of formation and shadows on the water in this instance was naturally inviting, leading her to capture the stage at the right moment. This type of patience is one of the many examples of how she takes her photos: being present, processing her surroundings, and accepting the scene.
Overall, what does she hope her viewers would feel as a first impression of her work? She hopes that viewers share their own interpretations of how the photo itself makes them feel. While her photos embrace spontaneity, the emotions that accompany the images are what represents the stories of her works, creating authenticity in people’s portrayals itself. “I enjoy hearing different interpretations or how a photo makes someone feel in comparison to someone else,” she says. Vivienne’s work encapsulates the beauty in living in the moment. For her most recent exhibition, it represents her growth as well as a chance to welcome a community that continues to inspire her every day. For this, directly expressed by Vivienne, if her collection could be described in three words, it would be: Taking your time.