Faces of rowing is a photographic project that captures the diversity of the rowers on Boathouse ... administrative , pr
Faces of Rowing A Photographic Public Art project By Photographer Sabina Louise Pierce & The Schuylkill Navy Project Statement Faces of rowing is a photographic project that captures the diversity of the rowers on Boathouse row. By photographing those who row in Philadelphia. Its primary purpose is to celebrate the diversity that can be found on the river. Sabina noticed while she was out rowing in her scull that there were many rowers that did not fit the general stereotype -that rowing is a sport only intended for the young, highbrow, fit ,white male. As she rowed daily she saw there are people that come in many shapes, sizes, color and gender and sexual affiliation. from their 80’s to teens that row on a regular basis. Some were short, plump, skinny. Some were African American, Asian, or Hispanic. Some were gay and many were women; though they all had one thing in common that brings them together as a community, they love to row. With that in mind She has been photographing portraits of rowers as she found them this past year. Most she plucked off the river. 4 requirements for the photo project – 1. All are photographed against the same simple white stucco wall. “ I feel the background needs to be consistent and
bland so the viewers eye stay on the subject and not be distracted.”
2. The subjects must have rowed before being photograph “as that’s when there inner spirit comes through.” 3. A quote from all participants of why they row. 4. All subjects are voluntarily and sign a release
She envisions the final project to be 4-6 -4ftx 4ft waterproof, color photographic aluminum panels of a collage of around 100 + rowers with their quotes of why they row laced around the edges in a border. The Panels will be hung on the front of Penn- AC’s boathouse’s white front wall facing Kelly drive so that they are easily viewable by the general public. The exhibit will hang for the summer/fall rowing season starting in July for the Independence day regatta coinciding with the Independence day regatta as many people from outside of Philadelphia race in that regatta. And as perfect time to show Boathouse rows diversity. It will end with the last regatta in November. A slide show of subjects onto the pavement in front of Penn AC (this will depend on lighting and available funding) She anticipates having an opening reception at Penn Ac on Tuesday July 1 2014 coinciding with the Independence day regatta as many people from outside of Philadelphia race in that regatta and the start of the summer racing season its as perfect time to show Boathouse rows diversity. It is also the high time when people stroll, bike, and run past the boathouse giving maximum exposure to the public.
Project expenses -$15,000.00 $5000.00 printing, mounting and manufacturing of 4-6 4x4 exhibit panels on 6 mm aluminum board. $6500.00 artist commission, (includes photography, post production, creating mural, general overseeing of day to day administrative , project manager of this public art project this past year) $500.00 Power wash and prep exhibit wall, mounting panels on Penn AC front wall, and take down panels. $800.00 for slide show projecting onto sidewalk on boathouse row of rotating images of individual rowers (buy proper slide projector) $1400.00 launch party @ Penn AC boathouse includes liability insurance, food, drink, tables etc. $1000 for design and making pamphlets, website and social media *any left over $ will be donated to Axis2row Some of the quotes: I love to row… As I love to go fast. So I can eat cupcakes for breakfast I love the camaraderie I love to compete It’s the best prayer I know
About the Artist….. Sabina Louise Pierce, is a photographer born and based in Philadelphia who has spent the last fifteen years shooting for newspapers, magazines and corporate clients, covering many different genres from environmental portraits, food, news, business, sports, medicine, fine art fashion and animals, books and murals. She was awarded “The Best of 2007” by the American Society of Media Photographers and Time Magazine’s “The Best Photos of 2006” for her images of Barbaro. She has been on contract for the Associated Press and the
Philadelphia Daily News and is currently is on contract with several newspapers & magazines including The New York
Times, The Christian Science Monitor, and The New York Daily News. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Time, People, Vanity
Fair, Smithsonian, Sports Illustrated, Los Angeles Times, Atlanta Journal Constitution, New York Newsday, New York Post, Wall St. Journal, Bloodhorse along with Germany’s Glick and Australia’s Good Weekend Magazine. Sabina’s latest book, The Culinary Canine, (2012) an internationally released book which she co-authored with
writer Kit Feldman and published by BowTie Press is a fun, light book about famous Chefs that cook for their dogs throughout the United States. It has over 100 photos of Sabina’s along with short stories about the chefs and their dogs and a recipe. Sabina made her first photo mural collage in Philadelphia in 2012 in conjunction with the Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.. The mural is a photo collage of people and students in South Philadelphia aimed at an understanding that diversity comes in many forms.. Sabina worked with students at the Bok High School and through photography helped the students understand acceptance for others . Her mural. Love Sets You Free, Hate Ties
You Down,
Choose Love installed in South Philadelphia Sabina also worked with the Philadelphia Mural Arts on My
North Philly a book of environmental portraits of neighborhood leaders. Sabina was the exclusive photographer for Kentucky Derby winner Barbaro while he was convalescing at the University of Pennsylvania’s New Bolton Center in 2006. Her heartfelt photographs of Barbaro were seen around the world and in every major newspaper and major broadcast news agency. They were also featured in HBO and NBC documentaries.
In addition she has done full-length photo stories on horses, cops and local colleges for Philadelphia Magazine, one, which required her to go undercover into the seedy world of horse slaughter in Canada and spent 2 years in a Philadelphia Police car photographing the police at work for a special project. Her photography has been exhibited in New York’s Museum of Natural History, the Saratoga Racing Museum, the Kentucky Derby Museum and Philadelphia’s City Hall. Sabina was featured in New York Times best selling author Ellyn Spragins book, “If I Knew When” which is a compilation of letters from accomplished women in their 30's to their younger selves. Sabina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Temple University and was awarded the prestigious Kay Kiegelbaum award of Excellence in her senior year for her photography and has gone back to Temple University as Adjunct Faculty to teach the class that gave her her start. Sabina’s work can be seen at www.sabinashoots.com.
