Today we’d like to introduce you to Janay Bookhart.
Hi Janay, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My passion for photography started in middle school when my parents got me my first Polaroid. I took pictures of family and friends. My grandmother, Mattie, loved pictures and collecting them. I graduated with my B.S in Photography from the University of Central Florida in 2018. I recently received my MFA from the University of North Texas. My thesis, “Never Forget I Love You, a series that focuses on my grandmother’s things as a way to hold on to her, connect with her, learn more about her life in depth, the journey of life after caregiving, family archives, and understanding how Alzheimer’s affects African American families. I’m investigating the woman she was before the disease from an adult standpoint.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
When my grandmother Mattie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, my family’s world turned upside down. As her condition worsened, she could no longer hold conversations with us. I started photographing “Mattie’s World” as a way to hold on to our relationship, learn more about her life, and honor her role in my family. I began to investigate the things she owned and carefully photographed her possessions in the hopes that my examinations would tell me what she no longer could. As I’ve progressed in my project, I’ve discovered connections between my life and personality and the woman I’ve only known as “Grandma Mattie.” Her life has inspired me to photograph as if I were a curious detective, but filled with all the emotions and the pain of mourning her passing.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I’m a photographer who engages the viewer through storytelling and creates dialogue.
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
Dallas is a growing major city with a huge art scene.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://janaynbookhart.myportfolio.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janaynicolephotography/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janay-bookhart/
