Artist Talk: Yevette Hendler

Sunday, February 26, 2023, 3-4pm
@ VCP, 10 Green Street, Brattleboro, VT

• Free & open to the public
• Light refreshments will be served
• The talk will be recorded for online viewing

Join us for a free public artist talk with Print Gallery exhibitor Yevette Hendler, in conjunction with her exhibition “Not Just Another Pandemic Story” which is on display Feb 3 – 26, 2023.

Statement
These past few years have presented many challenges in all aspects of our lives including how to create artwork when it involves collaborating with others. With the self-isolating, limiting of travel, and closing of borders this hampered our ability to collaborate… or did it? Having worked previously with my model in person (pre-pandemic), we put our heads together to figure out a way to continue collaborating even though we live in different countries and our borders were closed to each other at the time. Through modern technology, we were able to connect his camera to his computer in Canada and have me take control of it over the internet. From my home in Westminster, Vermont, I was able to direct my model by talking to him over the phone while seeing the results in real time through his camera lens. From the tripod mounted camera in Canada, I was able to frame the images by directing my model of placement, angle and focal length. Then he would enter the frame, and I would pose him and fix the exposure for lighting and focus. We had to work out the kinks because there were several devices required, and they all had to be adequately charged. Therefore, we started in his basement before taking the “show on the road”. We quickly found out that any one device low on battery power could end a shoot, and it did happen more than once. Location and weather were always a factor, and too much wind is not good for connectivity. We were never able to make this work at the beach, not for lack of trying. Even though the locations in Canada that we visited varied throughout this project, I was always in my studio back in Vermont. So it did happen in Vermont … sort of. Also we were finally able to shoot in person this past June when my friend visited me here in Vermont. Even though we created some work in person during that visit, we still occasionally do remote shoots. Therefore, this isn’t just another pandemic story. It’s a story of collaboration, trust, friendship and expression, and we had to get creative to stay creative during the pandemic.

Biography
A transplant from NJ and now a resident of Westminster, VT, artist, Yevette Hendler uses photography to present her vision of the everyday world and has transitioned to fine art model work. Hendler’s images have been shown in solo as well as group shows throughout the Lehigh Valley, PA and her piece “The Heart of Easton” is part of the City of Easton permanent art collection. She has participated in a collaborative community prior to landing in Westminster. Yevette brings her passion to life through the photographic image using both ambient light and studio lighting inspired by real or imagined stories.