Tati Foor
Staff Writer
The opening reception of “Everything We Are,” a senior thesis exhibition featuring the work of three senior photography major students – Christopher Rodriguez, Christopher Rogers and Camille C.Nan – was held Wednesday afternoon in the Irene Carlson Gallery of Photography in Miller Hall.
The exhibition, which runs through July 30, offers a glimpse into the students’ artistic growth.
Rodriguez’s collection focuses on the immigrant experience in Riverside, with pictures that highlight citizens and the citrus groves that were found throughout the city.
“Immigrants and the citrus eventually made Riverside one of the richest cities in the U.S. back in the day,” Rodriguez said. “So I just wanted to highlight the community and where I’m from.”
Rodriguez credits his time at ULV with helping him develop his photographic style.
“This series really helped me hone in what I gravitate to when I take a picture,” Rodriguez said.
C.Nan’s black-and-white self portraits overlaid with vibrant flowers tell a story of her personal transformation.
“I used to have a really difficult time with myself, my self image, how I even perceived myself,” C.Nan said. “The root of that was that I was bullied when I was younger and that went on until I got here to La Verne.”
The third featured artist, Rogers, presents a deeply personal collection that addresses trauma.
“It’s essentially talking about how everybody’s going through, or will go through some form of trauma in their life, and that you can’t really compare traumas because the response at the end of the day will always categorically be the same,” Rogers said.
Rogers aims that his project will spark conversation to be more mindful that everyone is going through their own struggles.
Visitors to the exhibition found themselves moved by the students’ vulnerability and artistic visions, while also challenging their perceptions of photography as an art form.
“I didn’t understand how the reception would work,” Amy Sanchez, a visitor said. “I know they put a lot of hours into taking, collecting, and then portraying their work. It just makes me respect those students a lot.”
Visitors also acknowledged how it takes an artistic vision to create a story like the ones displayed at the exhibit.
“I feel like you have to be a deep thinker to be able to do this kind of photography,” Paola Hernandez, another visitor added. “Anyone can just take a picture, but you want a specific feeling to convey through the photo.”
Through their distinct approaches and personal stories Rodriguez, Rogers, and C.Nan demonstrated the power of photography to document communities, process trauma, and foster self-acceptance.
“Everything We Are” not only showcases their technical skills but also invites viewers to pause and reflect on their own experiences, making it a must-see exhibition for the La Verne community.
For more of the artists’ work visit their Instagram pages.
Rodriguez can be found at @first_rate_archives, C.Nan at @camillecnanphoto and Rogers at @chrisrogersphotography.
An exhibition of additional images from Rogers’ project can be found in the West Gallery in the Campus Center.
Tati Foor can be reached at tatiana.foor@laverne.edu.
Tati Foor is a junior communications major with a concentration in public relations, and a staff writer for the Campus Times.
Rylee Fournier is a senior photography major with a marketing minor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. Outside of school, she runs her own photography business, specializing in weddings and portrait photography. You can find her work on Instagram or at ryleefournierphotography.com.
