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April 9, 2008
By Erin Schroeder and Neha Patel
Staff Writer & Contributing Writer
Jan Goff-LaFontaine has a knack for getting women to expose themselves, emotionally and physically.
Goff-LaFontaine’s Photography series, Out of the Shadows, is about women, healing, and liberation. This series is on display in the UIS Student Art Gallery in the VPA Building through April 11th. Her opening reception was held last Friday night at 6pm. The event was sponsored by the UIS Women’s Center, Political Art and the Public Sphere (PAPS), Women’s Issues Caucus, ECCE Speaker Series, and the UIS Student Art League (ASL), and it included a Q&A forum for students and guests to ask Goff-LaFontaine about her work.
Her black and white photography of women in their most natural state enticed the viewer to ask many questions and spark deep conversations about the reason for this series. When asked what inspired her to do this project she said she wanted to “help abused women rebuild their self-esteem” and show them their “true beauty.”
When asked about how she went about finding these women and how she got to know them, she said that it was mainly “by word of mouth.” When she came up with the idea, she went to a center for abused women and spoke with a woman who worked there. This woman became her first subject to uncover her body and her story of pain. After that she said, “It was no effort to find subjects.” People would recommend someone or some would come to her after hearing about what she was doing.
Each photo comes with a story of pain, but also of healing. Every one of the women pictured had been the victim sort of abuse, either physical or sexual. One 94-year-old model, Flossie, left her husband after many years of marriage at age 62. Her story explained that it was not as easy to leave an abusive husband in her time. Goff-LaFontaine explained that her focus was not on the abuse or the horrible shame; it was about women who were healed and how they were able to overcome these obstacles. She wanted to help expose the “innocent child that was lost long ago.” She said it was also about helping “people feel hope” about a “big scary subject.” A discussion about rape victims and the public’s reaction quickly rose from the audience. Ms. Goff-LaFontaine said that “date or acquaintance rape is more common than an unknown attacker. It’s harder when it’s someone you know.”
Many guests asked and commented on how her work would open up dialogue about these “scary subjects.” She said she thought her pieces were a “safe space” to start these kinds of discussions because of the way she portrayed the women. She felt that she showed a respectful and honoring view. Brian Gillis, UIS Assistant Professor of Visual Arts, commented, “they make the viewer feel less of a voyeur. The are done in a way that is relatable.”
Karen Moranski, Vice Chancellor for Undergraduate Education, expressed with great empathy, “Goff-LaFontaine’s collection is a powerful juxtaposition on violence. It is portrayed in a natural, peaceful, and healing dichotomy. It is hopeful. It is important for students to see because it is a different way of looking at issues. Art offers different ways to see abuse.”
Student Jenna Viehweg noted “Through photos sad feelings are released. Simple pictures say a lot and are powerful.”
Moving through the photo exhibit, attendees were exposed to nearly a dozen women who overcame the battle that persists after being sexually assaulted. Through the forces of light, nature, and reflections of beauty, Goff-LaFontaine illustrated the healing product that these battered women by interviewing the women in a safe space and thereafter captured their essence through visually esthetic scenery and sensation.
The women portrayed in Goff-LaFontaine’s photos were not professional models. They were normal, real life women. When asked how she was able to get these women to pose nude for her she smiled and said it was “Some kind of a magic thing. I listen with an open heart and don’t judge.”
She said at first some were resolute about not undressing, but after the interview “almost every single women would willingly pose” for her nude. She said for them it was like “peeling away the layers of shame and self-blame. The clothes were just the last layer of self defense.” She said these women felt “incredibly liberated” after being interviewed then taking off their clothes for the photos. Goff-LaFontaine said that one woman expressed that “the interview was the naked part for her.”
Jan Goff-Fontaine also wrote a book titled, Women in the Shadow and Light. It contains the photo series currentluy on display plus many more photos. The women's stories are detailed in this book as well. Tofind out more about her book and photo series, log onto www.janlafontaine.com/womeninshadows.html.
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