Teacher Name: Mr. Baran
Grade: 12

Artist Statement:

I have always enjoyed taking pictures of Chicago and my family and friends. I enjoy looking back at them and reminiscing about the memories I captured, such as in my piece LeTour. I captured a photo at the LeTour French Restaurant in Evanston, where my parents have worked for a year now. Over the years, my parents have worked in the restaurant industry but have never met anyone like Amy, the owner of LeTour. Amy has been very supportive to my family, which has led to a deep connection with her and her restaurants. I decided to show this by capturing a picture of the table setting at LeTour. I experimented with different angles and decided to include the table setting with the big windows that project a strong sunlight to capture the brightness of the restaurant inside. For my next piece, “Kinship,” I captured a plate full of Christmas ornaments. I used a low angle to show a close up of one ornament. For me, Christmas signifies family. Every year, my family invites all the people we consider family, which includes our extended family, friends, and neighbors. I enjoy seeing everyone together and catching up on life. It also shows me how many people have stuck to my family’s side and the different people we have met.

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