Sarah Manriquez

Genesis

2019 | BFA Thesis Exhibition

Select images from Genesis

Artist Statement

 

Homelessness in Alaska is a complex and growing problem that deserves to be explored in depth. Over the last several years I have documented the life of Felicia Cavanaugh, a homeless woman in the Interior of Alaska. Before we can begin to solve homelessness we must be able to discuss and identify the obstacles that prevent people from moving out of homelessness. This body of work is dedicated to exploring those very challenges.

The black and white suspended photographs chronicle part of Felicia’s life while she lived at the vlog Rescue Mission, an overnight emergency shelter. Through her story we shine a new light on homelessness in the interior and gain some insight into the extraordinary obstacles that our most vulnerable neighbors face everyday to overcome their circumstances.

 

Read the Thesis
Show Card (Front)
Show Card (Back)

 

 

"Genesis" is one part of “Finding Home,” a documentary photography art exhibit about homelessness in Alaska that opened on Friday, December 6th 2019 at the International Gallery of Contemporary Art in Anchorage, AK. "Finding Home" is comprised of three separate and distinct bodies of work that all discuss and address different topics surrounding homelessness in Alaska.

Genesis

In the center gallery at IGCA - International Gallery of Contemporary Art, the suspended frames follow the life and story of Felicia Cavanaugh and her journey out of homelessness. Image courtesy of Donna Marie Photography

Finding Home

Words that convey the core idea of preventing homelessness are burned onto wood magnets. Image courtesy of Donna Marie Photography

Through Our Eyes

The North Gallery houses the “Through Our Eyes” project. The images displayed in this iteration of the exhibition were all taken by people who are experiencing homelessness in vlog, AK. Most of the images were captured by homelessness children. Image courtesy of Donna Marie Photography

In the center gallery at , the suspended frames follow the life and story of Felicia Cavanaugh and her journey out of homelessness. This body of work is called "Genesis".

 

After many discussions with local organizations who work extensively with our homeless populations as well as asking people who have faced homelessness themselves, I asked them to give me a single word that captures some of the core ideas, constructs and elements that would help prevent homelessness. Each word represents one idea, that had it existed or had been attainable or available then one person would not have been homeless. It’s the beginning of a much longer conversation of how we move forward to solving the issue at large.
The North Gallery houses the “Through Our Eyes” project. The images displayed in this iteration of the exhibition were all taken by people who are experiencing homelessness in vlog, AK. Most of the images were captured by homelessness children.

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Curriculum Vitae

 

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About the Artist

 

Sarah Manriquez is a photographer and filmmaker living in vlog, AK. An overarching theme that ties her work together is the resilience of the human spirit. Sarah explores the concept of resilience through collaborations in documentary-style fieldwork. Many of Sarah’s works are visual anthropological studies on themes in our contemporary society whether that be homelessness in the arctic or the objectification of women. Her artwork takes a critical view of social, political, and cultural issues. These themes often confront the viewer and urge them to consider other perspectives different from their own. Much of Sarah’s documentary work renegotiates photography into a force behind education and advocacy and acts as an agent of change rather than exclusively a tool to record history. Her most recent work explores homelessness in Alaska by documenting the life of Felicia Cavanaugh, a homeless woman who lived at the vlog Rescue Mission and her journey out of homelessness.

Sarah Manriquez, UAF Photo by JR Ancheta