2026 SPE Annual Conference: Catalyst for Exchange
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print this pageKeynote: Alanna Airitam
The Power of Equitable Art Communities
Saturday, October 19 - 5:00PM to 6:30PM
NEW LOCATION: Lindquist Hall 101
The Power of Equitable Art Communities
The role of an artist is vital to an open-minded society. Without artists, we lose inspiration and settle for the status quo. Artists need community and connection to thrive and envision new cultural possibilities. This talk explores the importance of community, how it benefits us, and why we must think beyond diversity to have a truly equitable community. I'll share my journey of building my own community when none was available, and how I engage with people to create compelling narratives about our society. Join us to discover how community empowers artists and enriches culture.
About Alanna Airitam
Alanna Airitam is a photographer whose work transcends traditional boundaries, incorporating elements of other materials such as metal, resin, varnish, and gold leaf into her captivating compositions. With a focus on lighting, staging, and processes referencing particular eras in art history, her portraits and still lifes often takes on a painterly quality that invites viewers to explore hidden histories and stories that have led to a lack of fair and honest representation of Black Americans.
Driven by a relentless pursuit of truth, Airitam delves into the complexities of storytelling and the subjective and indefinite nature of truth. Through the lens of photography, she seeks to unravel the secrets of the past, drawing upon the belief that a photograph is proof of existence, the closest thing to an irrefutable truth. Her work challenges preconceived notions through the incorporation of both digital and film processes, as well as the manipulation and construction of images, offering a fresh perspective on the nature of truth itself.
Influenced by the power and beauty of Black people, the strength and creativity of women, and the dream of a world where individuals are free to shape their own lives without interference, Airitam finds inspiration in the syncopation of jazz and the transportive nature of music, the art of storytelling, and the endless possibility of the human spirit. Her work also draws from the colors, lighting, and scale of 17th-century Renaissance paintings, as well as the legacy of Black studio photographers from the 19th century.
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Alanna Airitam
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