Arkme

Stephanie Land is a Brooklyn, NY artist by way of Chicago making waves as a photographer and paper artist. Her photos document life and her travels, while her paper arts combine old materials, vintage finds, handmade papers, and her personal spin to create unique masterpieces. She is also a self-proclaimed letter writer and her personal letters to friends and family are each distinctive pieces shared with lucky receivers.

It's Sunday- original letter

In spending just a short time with Stephanie, it’s clear that not only is she talented, she’s a lovely spirit bringing that to all she works with. At the recent FRESHER! exhibition put on by Younity, she confessed she didn’t know what she was going to contribute to the show to be in line with their eco-conscious theme, but was up for the challenge. After Younity suggested a book art piece, Stephanie had fun with merging the old + new world, reworking images, and creating The Whole Wide World- a revamped book turned flip-through art.

The Whole Wide World - repurposed book

The Whole Wide World

Boxes and Writings, one of Stephanie’s photographs, was also on display at the FRESHER! gallery. The photograph was taken in Sao Paulo, Brazil as she documented the streets through her eyes during her stay. While the photo keeps in theme with the FRESHER! message and common aesthetic of brown cardboard boxes, Stephanie also took the theme to a personal level when choosing what to submit. She interpreted the show’s theme as being open to change, especially creatively, going for the reinvention of self, and always benefiting from doing so. Her pieces in the show have done that for her, and it’s an idea she takes on in her life and with other projects. Her email signature even includes a quote from the inventor of Polaroid in the same frame of mind: “Don’t undertake a project unless it is manifestly important and nearly impossible.” – Edwin Land

Boxes & Writings - photo by Stephanie Land

Currently Stephanie is working on another project involving her Brazil travels. Leading up to her visit to Brazil, Stephanie wrote letters to the friend she stayed with. After arriving, Stephanie took photos and gathered books from thrift shopping. While only a small percentage of the letters she wrote leading to her visit to Brazil actually made it to the recipient, no doubt Stephanie will bring together a series of unique viewpoint, life, and free spirit as she creates this project.

For more of Stephanie’s work, please visit her sites:
http://www.stephanie-land.com/
http://stephanielandclicks.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/stephanieland/sets