IAC holds artist reception for Pinky Bass
For some artists, photography is about capturing an image, but for others, it's about expanding its meaning beyond what's right in front of them.
Born Marian McCall, the artist better known as Pinky Bass, does just that through her work.
Bass is showcasing her experimental approach to photography at Troy University, where her exhibition features photographs transformed through stitching, chemical processes and other unconventional techniques.
Rather than limiting herself to traditional photography, Bass uses different materials and processes to explore new possibilities within her work.
"If I make a photograph and make a mistake in it, I find that to be the most wonderful surprise, because it gives me an idea," Bass said.
Her interest in photography began with a fascination for the human figure and how the body functions.
When her sister developed cancer, Bass became interested in the chemical processes occurring inside her body. That curiosity led her to study old anatomy books and begin stitching anatomical imagery onto her photographs.
Bass said she also began experimenting with chemical alterations, including pouring bleach onto a photograph to create unexpected visual effects.
One of those altered photographs became the featured image for her exhibition.
For Bass, the significance of that piece comes from the different meanings viewers can find within it.
"You bring yourself to it, rather than me dictating to you what you're seeing," Bass said.
Another featured work comes from her “Baby Dream” series, which includes an image of her pregnant daughter appearing to float above the Gulf.
Bass captured the original image using a small plastic camera with four lenses, producing four miniature photographs on a single frame of film.
She later enlarged the image and incorporated writing to develop it into part of a larger series.
Her interest in exploring different photographic techniques also led her to create a portable pinhole camera and darkroom from an old pop-up camper.
After receiving a grant through an Alabama arts organization, Bass traveled to schools across the state, introducing students to photography and the way cameras work.
The camper was designed to expand like the bellows of a camera, allowing students to experience the photographic process firsthand.
Bass said the project allowed her to combine her interests in art and education without pursuing a traditional teaching career.
Throughout her artistic journey, Bass has continued searching for new techniques and ways of interpreting the world.
She credits a photography class at Georgia State University and Professor John McWilliams with helping her discover photography as a form of personal expression.
For aspiring artists, Bass encourages taking what they have learned from different experiences and applying it to the work that excites them.
"Look for that place where you get so excited, it's like, yes," Bass said. "And go running."
Bass's exhibition is expected to remain on display at Troy University through mid-November.
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