3rd place
bronze star award
Natalie Kirk
united states 
title
Red Light Intermission
We’re all leaving jobs on our way to our homes, to engage in our routine activities, a repeating cycle like a performance each night, never differing. A red light is intermission. The engagement with others through our vehicular avatar ceases; introspection begins, water breaks are taken, and hair and makeup are touched up.
I paused for a moment during intermission and looked up, seeing you behind me in the mirror, realizing that here we show ourselves completely unscripted, and I feel a connection with your unrehearsed gestures. They don’t know anyone is watching and in that moment I feel together and apart. How ironic that when we’re surrounded by an audience, separated by nothing but glass, we feel so totally alone and unjudged that we’re free to stare blankly and unfocused at nothing, mouth agape. But that’s the magic of traffic, it requires just enough focus to resume the commute, but allows enough detachment to lose character.
As a visual artist, Natalie is devoted to the medium of photography as a visual language. Growing up in a conservative environment such as Utah, she’s learned to make communicative art about controversial topics; working under this theme, she has broadened her perspective and interest in visual art as language for changing perspective on social issues involving women's rights and gender. She currently teaches at the University of Utah and is also a Photographer for a bio-engineering and manufacturing company.
The themes found in Natalie's art stems from being the youngest of four children raised by a single mother, Natalie grew up surrounded by educated, self-sustaining female role models. She gives credit to the strong women in her life for the success she’s had in her developing career.
back to gallery
entry description
The glass of your windshield hides nothing, and like an open window, anyone is your voyeur and you are theirs. Only you don’t take advantage of this free entertainment. You don’t notice the others and they don’t notice you -- only your vehicle; your extension of self. It behaves exactly as you tell it and you are judged by its behavior. But when traffic stops-- either a jam or a red light -- it no longer conceals you. You, the puppeteer, are exposed to the eyes all around, but still, no one sees. Except me.We’re all leaving jobs on our way to our homes, to engage in our routine activities, a repeating cycle like a performance each night, never differing. A red light is intermission. The engagement with others through our vehicular avatar ceases; introspection begins, water breaks are taken, and hair and makeup are touched up.
I paused for a moment during intermission and looked up, seeing you behind me in the mirror, realizing that here we show ourselves completely unscripted, and I feel a connection with your unrehearsed gestures. They don’t know anyone is watching and in that moment I feel together and apart. How ironic that when we’re surrounded by an audience, separated by nothing but glass, we feel so totally alone and unjudged that we’re free to stare blankly and unfocused at nothing, mouth agape. But that’s the magic of traffic, it requires just enough focus to resume the commute, but allows enough detachment to lose character.
about the photographer
Natalie received her BFA from the University of Utah and her MA, as well as MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
As a visual artist, Natalie is devoted to the medium of photography as a visual language. Growing up in a conservative environment such as Utah, she’s learned to make communicative art about controversial topics; working under this theme, she has broadened her perspective and interest in visual art as language for changing perspective on social issues involving women's rights and gender. She currently teaches at the University of Utah and is also a Photographer for a bio-engineering and manufacturing company.
The themes found in Natalie's art stems from being the youngest of four children raised by a single mother, Natalie grew up surrounded by educated, self-sustaining female role models. She gives credit to the strong women in her life for the success she’s had in her developing career.
back to gallery
