Poignant Pics no. 33: On JP Terlizzi's The Intersection
Welcome to no. 33 in our series Poignant Pics where our editor, Diana Nicholette Jeon, writes about JP Terlizzi’s image, “The Intersection.”
When Materials Collide with Play…
The Intersection
Recently I attended a Zoom presentation that Aline Smithson did for Santa Fe Workshops entitled “Creativity Continues: The Altered Image.” If you have seen my work, or read any of my previous musings here on One Twelve, you already know that I adore altered images. I found tons of inspiration and new (to me) work during this lecture, including an interesting image by JP Terlizzi.
Terlizzi is a good friend of mine, and I was well aware of his work altering images via sewing. But I had not seen any work from him like the work Aline presented that day, and it stuck with me after the lecture as new, fresh, and different than his other work. I went to IG to seek out the images again but had no luck finding them there. I wrote to him about the work and he sent me the images he had made, including this one, which he had just finished. I loved all of them that he showed to me but chose this one as it was the most recent and the furthest along in his processes with this method of experimentation.
Asked about the imagery, JP said he “was inspired by Aline Smithson’s recent assignment to foster experimentation and play with the artist’s hand intervening with the photograph.” For this work, he experimented with using a recently purchased, vintage, children’s botany set. He photographed the slide specimens provided with the kit and combined them with flora photographs to create images that resembled cyanotypes. He then created unique, one-of-a-kind imagery by affixing pressed floral materials to each photographic print. Beginning with no expectations other than to play, experiment, and let the images speak as they might, he believes the final imagery speaks to the fragility and resilience of nature.
I applaud JP for trying something with no expectations of having something great come of it, other than the experience and the moment. Sometimes we become so good at what we do normally that we don’t take the time to get out of our own mental spaces to try something new (and to perhaps fail, and then get up and try it again.) For whatever reasons we don’t explore, we need to find additional ones that cause us to do so. Getting out of our own boxes and playing, yes, PLAYING with something new leads us to unexpected discoveries, often leading to new work or new portfolios. It certainly did for JP Terlizzi, allowing him to create this gorgeous work. Bravo, JP.
— Diana Nicholette Jeon
PS. JP has a note for Aline Smithson: “I’ve been having a lot of fun continuing with this assignment, creating some really cool images that I probably never would have conceived if it wasn’t for Aline’s lecture. THANK YOU, ALINE!”
Artist Bio
JP Terlizzi is a New York City photographer whose contemporary practice explores themes of memory, relationship, and identity. His images are rooted in the personal and heavily influenced around the notion of home, legacy, and family. He is curious how the past relates and intersects with the present and how the present enlivens the past, shaping one’s identity.
Born and raised in the farmlands of Central New Jersey, JP earned a BFA in Communication Design at Kutztown University of PA with a background in graphic design and advertising. He has studied photography at both the International Center of Photography in New York and Maine Media College in Rockport, ME.
His work has been exhibited extensively in galleries and museums across the United States and abroad including juried, invitational, and solo exhibitions. JP has received several awards and honors, including being recognized and named in The Fence (2021), The Critical Mass Top 50 (2019, 2018), Critical Mass Finalist (2016, 2015). Fresh Finalist (Klompching Gallery, 2019), First Look Winner (Panopticon Gallery, 2019), International Portfolio Competition Winner (Soho Photo Gallery, 2018). His work has been published in both online and print publications and is held in both permanent and private collections across the United States and Canada.
JP Terlizzi’s portfolio can be viewed here.
Author Bio
Diana Nicholette Jeon is an award-winning artist based in Honolulu, HI who works primarily with lens-based media. Her work has been seen both internationally and nationally in solo and group exhibitions. Jeon holds an MFA from UMBC.