Artists Statement

Tucson, Arizona has a variety of diverse communities that the residents belong to within the Tucson community itself. While capturing a single community for this project, it was hard not to focus on one community all UA students share in common. The community we belong to, our atmosphere and environment of the University of Arizona’s University Boulevard. It is what students see while walking to class, getting a cup of coffee, rushing to meetings, or simply just enjoying time with friends amongst the beautiful scenery and welcoming vibes that University Boulevard possesses. We entered this theme with a primary objective: to capture what University Boulevard offers us students. Once we began photographing, we noticed how much more this single street offers than primarily believed.
University Boulevard invites students in with cost-friendly businesses that are flexible with the diverse population of our University’s students. Walking down University not only has an array of businesses that welcome all students, but it is the atmosphere that truly captures and creates the community we all belong to. Beautiful landscaping outlines businesses with benches and chairs open for any student who needs a break to relax from a tiresome day. As we photographed along University, we noticed that these benches offered a place for students who were rigorously studying from their books, a place to exchange laughter between friends, a seat to share with a stranger, and a place to meet these strangers we may not know and potentially meet new friends. Our journey photographing these unique and happy exchanges within our community brought joy into our lives and intensified out realization of how much University Boulevard means to us.
We photographed this atmosphere with a unique point of perspective. Our arrangement of photographs allows viewers to see University Boulevard in a different light than they may have visualized it before. We used black and white to emphasize the message that is being portrayed and to make this message more dramatic. Our photographs have textures that contrast the different objects in the prints. We additionally try to capture the essence and welcoming vibes that this community gives to its students. Lastly, we hope to convey to viewers that University Boulevard offers much more than one can overlook and may even take advantage of having. We encourage more students to enter this community we belong to and cherish and to enjoy the happiness and relaxation it offers us and, potentially, may bring to them.

More Favorites

These were a few more favorites. We do not have text for them but wanted to share them with everyone!

Trendy and Relaxed

American Apparel has become a staple store on college campus' around the United States as it offers college students access to comfortable, cutting edge fashions. The cutting edge appeal of the merchandise sold inside is seen as the mannequin strikes a provocative pose eyeing down students on the Blvd. passing bye the store front display. In addition the "o.k" symbol on the poster board is explaining to students that mom and dad would approve of them shopping and thus helping such an "American" franchise. In addition the open doors are very welcoming to a student who has time between classes to browse while killing time. The negative space becomes the inside of the store as it is darker than the rest of the photograph thus the first thing that is noticed is the mannequin as it is posed in an unusual posture thus is what the eye is drawn to first. All in all the photograph embodies the student culture on University Blvd.

Reeling Students In

This picture embodies the target market group of the shops on University (including the cafe captured in the photograph) which make up the community on the Blvd. The mural painted above the cafe entrance we wanted to illustrate as the focal point-the man in-particular resembles a professor with a stern look encouraging his student to buy the large cup of coffee in turn receiving the sophistication needed to succeed in college classes-which is communicated through association with "art" and "expresso" (words on either side of the man) that are seen after the professor.

The Bigger Picture

Taking this picture was frustrating, as I initially felt the reflection from across the street took away from the pictures focus, however after a second glance this became a favorite as the University wall and campus is reflected. This shows the relative location of the Community of shops to the actual University of Arizona Campus. In addition bikes are in the reflection which portrays the student population within the community and the stores title "cost cutters" reveals the budget of the typical community member on University Blvd who is an average college student. From this angle the reflection of the campus becomes the focal point unveiling the main source of business for the shops on University Blvd.

Universality

We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same

~Anne Frank

The Community of shops and people that characterize University Blvd. range in their individual characteristics and objectives however all of the shops and individuals come to University with the same long term objective: happiness..after all life is good!