Rebecca (Becca) Gohn ’20 is the 33rd recipient of the Jan Meyer '87 Photography Traveling Fellowship
We are pleased to announce that Rebecca (Becca) Gohn ’20 is the 33rd recipient of the Jan Meyer '87 Photography Traveling Fellowship. Her application was selected by a panel of #MICAphoto faculty from an array of outstanding proposals.
Becca’s proposal, Mining the Rift, will use photographic documentation and research to explore the production and potential of geothermal energy in Iceland. Becca writes:
| Iceland is a unique and pivotal example of a society once reliant on fossil fuels transitioning to renewables, in this case, hydroelectric and geothermal. This project will allow me to document, research, and understand the perspective of a country that has achieved a fully sustainable energy system. I will visit all seven geothermal power stations in the country, Hellisheiði, Nesjavellir, Reykjanes, Svartsengi, Kraa, Bjarnarag and Þeistareykir, making images of each site in its surrounding landscape, workers’ experiences, production process, and sites that benefit from their resources. These sites will include domestic spaces in the homes that run on the geothermal grid, various tourist attractions such as hot springs and public pools, and even data farms powered by the Icelandic landscape and energy production. I plan to show how diverse this resource can be, varying from a source of survival to that of luxury and economic growth. |
Examples of the artist's environmentally engaged work may be viewed on her website https://www.rebeccagphoto.com/
Given the challenges of COVID-19, Becca’s project will commence at such time that public health permits safe international travel. Accordingly, her fellowship year may be extended as needed to accommodate these extraordinary times. The fellowship work will be exhibited in MICA’s Main Zero gallery, to be scheduled once the pandemic timetable becomes clear.
The fellowship is made possible by an endowed gift from Janis Meyer, an alumna of #MICAphoto, and is awarded annually for a graduating BFA Photography major to travel to make a new body of photographic work. This year marks the 33rd anniversary of this generous fellowship. We in the department honor Jan’s memory and thank the Meyer family for their support in empowering our students.