LEAH SCHRETENTHALER - EXPOSURE INTERNATIONAL OPEN CALL

The land of Hawaii is vast, luxurious, and idyllic, but past the wanderlust images the land is very controversial. The growing population and tourism continue to threaten the space and its ability to accommodate all its occupants. The industrial growth happening in Hawaii goes beyond simply manipulating the landscape; it destroys historical records and spiritual places that have existed there for millions of years. In these photographs of The Invasive Species of the Built Environment, the attention focuses on the spaces in which these infrastructures impede on the natural environment, instead of colors of the idyllic Hawaii. I use silver gelatin prints which consist of selected, man-made spaces that have been removed, creating a burnt and sometimes empty area. The use of a laser cutter to cut the structure from the landscape leaves a scar upon the image. The removed spaces aid in seeing what Hawaii would be like without these impositions. No longer should humanity build for the sake of building; we should instead question the social and political concerns that exist in the natural world.

BIOGRAPHY

Leah Schretenthaler was born and raised in Hawaii. After relocating to the mainland, she continues to use Hawaii as a point of reference for her research and studio practice. Her work uses traditional photography, laser etching, and metal casting to create images. Through her art practice, her research presents a connection between land, material, and performance. Schretenthaler completed her BFA degree from the University of South Dakota and holds a Master’s degree in art education from Boston University. She is currently an MFA candidate. Recently, she was awarded the College Art Association Professional Development Fellowship in the Visual Arts. She was named one of LensCulture’s Emerging Talents of 2018 and was awarded second place in the Sony World Photography Awards. In 2019, she was awarded the Rhonda Wilson Award through FRESH2019 at the Klompching Gallery. In the fall of 2019 she received the Film Photo Award. Her work has been displayed nationally and internationally including at Kahilu Theatre (Waimea, HI), Washington Pavilion (Sioux Falls, SD), Manifest (Cincinnati, OH), The Rhode Island Center for Photographic Arts (Providence, RI), Center for Fine Art Photography (Fort Collins, CO), Soho Gallery (New York, NY), and the Somerset House (London).