Statement:

"i am a rock. i am an island" is a project that was born from solitary expeditions across Iceland while searching for old Quonset huts. During World War II, the United States occupied Iceland when they originally claimed neutrality during the war. The U.S. had a continuing military presence in the country until 2006. While traversing the country alone, the vast emptiness of the land mimicked my own personal journey, and this body of work focuses on the sublime solitude of the Icelandic terrain. The landscapes are deconstructed and re-examined, projecting hints of human element in environments void of people. These images act as a catalyst for a fantastical exploration of the memory and psychology one attaches to place. 

 

Bio:

Jessica Harvey (b.1983) received an MFA in Photography from Cranbrook Academy of Art in 2009 and a BA in Film and Video from Columbia College Chicago in 2005. She has been making work in Chicago after being awarded a Fulbright Grant for the 2011-2012 year. Recent residencies include ACRE , and a full fellowship to Vermont Studio Center. She has exhibited work in places such as the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art in Grand Rapids, MI; MDW Art Fair, Johalla Projects in Chicago, IL; The Center for Contemporary Photography in Detroit, MI; and the Cranbrook Art Museum.