Transformations: The Ordinary Made Extraordinary

Juror's Statement

I was very pleased to find so many pieces that captured the essence of this exhibition. I am always on the lookout for the innovative and the new; I was not disappointed. The ordinary played a roll in all chosen works, but only if that ordinary had been transformed in an unexpected way.

- Ellen Jantzen

About the Juror

Photographer Ellen Jantzen continues to push the envelope of perception, looking at the world with the potential of other realities. Her new series, Disturbing the Spirits, allows her to consider the natural world, our place in it, with particular attention focused on the metaphor of trees.

Ellen was born, raised, and currently lives in St. Louis, Missouri. She received a degree in graphic arts; later emphasizing fine art. Upon graduation she and her husband settled down on acreage in Southern Illinois and set about to construct several solar and energy efficient structures. After moving to Los Angeles, and receiving an advance degree at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, she worked as a senior project designer for Mattel Toy Company.

Ellen now uses her computer design training to advance her fine art career. It was a true confluence of technical advancements and creative desire that culminated in her current explorations in photo inspired art using both a camera to capture staged assemblages and a computer to alter and manipulate the pieces. Ellen has been creating works that bridge the world of prints, photography and collage. Her photographs have been exhibited and published worldwide. Ellen is currently represented by Susan Spiritus of the Susan Spiritus Gallery:  https://susanspiritusgallery.com/artists/

Call for Entries

Photography enables us to see the world in new and unexpected ways. It also allows us to transform our perceptions into heightened visual experiences. For TRANSFORMATIONS: THE ORDINARY MADE EXTRAORDINARY, we sought photographs that enable us to see ordinary things in new ways.