By Kimia Ashraf

Photography teacher Phil Benenati used Aimee Garcia’s, a notable Cuban photographer, work to serve as the foundation and inspiration of a new project for his advanced students. Garcia was one of the nineteen artists chosen from Cuba whose work was displayed at SECCA. Mr. Benenati was inspired by her work, so he decided to incorporate it into the next project he assigned. As a result, the students created pieces to form a unique exhibition at Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts.

   “I knew I was going to be doing self-portraits with Photo 2, so when I saw the self-portraits I decided to show them Aimee’s work and then go ahead and assign them three-dimensional self-portraits,” Benenati said. “So, they saw her work, and then they didn’t see her work while they had to think of their own idea and create something. The whole concept was they have to stick out off the wall.”

   Many of Garcia’s pieces include abstract designs and life-like objects, described by students as unusual yet captivating.

  “They could use any materials they wanted to. Some brought in objects from home, some had nature, some had computer parts, some had string or coins or rocks… So they all did their own thing!” Benenati said.

    Mr. Benenati also spoke about the students’ creating processes.

   “They were allowed to photograph each other, so they had to set it up,” Benenati said, “some of them used a timer with a tripod out in the hallway or outside and others said ‘Ok, I’m going to do this, so just take it’. So that’s why they’re all different.”

   The students also had different perspectives on Garcia’s work, yet they were all equally inspired.

   “I was inspired by her use of random objects on some of her portraits, which is why I decided to use plastic forks on my piece” senior Piper Muller said, “I was really inspired by art deco and old Hollywood. I was trying to go for something eye-catching and glamorous. I knew as soon as the project was assigned that I wanted to use gold and silver.”

   Muller recounts seeing her own work in a gallery as very memorable.

   “My favorite part was definitely getting to see my art in a gallery at Secca. That was something I didn’t even think was possible yet,” Muller said. “Seeing my art at Secca was almost dream-like. Creating stuff is my passion and I feel like that was a huge milestone for me.”

   Mr. Benenati also reflects on his students work with pride.

   “They did a good job with the composition and the interesting part was they’re all so different,” Benenati said,  “I believe that a couple of them will definitely win in Scholastics.”