Name: Monica Escamilla
Major: Photography
Hometown: I grew up in Springfield, Virginia and went to school in Alexandria.
Why did you choose VCU?
I chose VCU because of its prestigious art program. I had been familiar with the school because my brother had attended VCU and graduated with a Kinetic Imaging degree. I also really love Richmond. The city has a very good art and music scene. It is easy to feel at home here.
I always loved to take pictures, but I didn’t actively start pursuing photography until I moved to Richmond. I relocated from Northern Virginia after a short stint working as a teacher in Costa Rica. I knew that if I could find a job in Richmond I would be closer to VCU and hopefully would someday be a student in the Photography program.
How have your experiences at VCU shaped your artistic practice?
Coming back to school at VCU has really encouraged me to put myself out there. Art in general encourages the promotion of ideas; ideas that are mostly personal. I can be a quiet and introverted person at times, but being part of the art program has encouraged me to be more assertive and forthright when communicating ideas and during critiques.
How would you describe your artistic style?
Color is really important in my work. It has always been a staple in my life. I am really drawn to color because of the way it makes me feel.
Is this (the Undergraduate Juried Exhibit) your first show? If not, what other shows have you been a part of?
I have been in a few art shows since first attending VCU. While in the Art Foundation program, my stop motion video That’s More Like It! was exhibited in the 60x60x60 artshow. I also exhibited at VCU Qatar during the Tasmeem Conference in March of last year. I was also happy to be chosen to have a performance video piece in the Last Fridays March 2016 show. Last Fridays was formed by my friend, Bethany Allen, to promote a sense of community within the artistic community in Richmond.
You were also awarded a VMFA Fellowship last year, can you tell me a little about that experience?
The VMFA fellowship really came as a surprise. My professor, Janelle Proulx, encouraged our Concepts class to apply. I had really been questioning myself a few weeks before and wondering if I had made the right decision coming back to school. I am honored to have been chosen. It feels good to be part of the group of artists that have been awarded this prestigious award.
What are projects are you working on now?
Lately, I have been thinking a lot about human emotion and how intangible emotion is. Afterall, emotion is literally chemical reactions occurring in your brain. I have been trying to tap into this idea through my artwork; manipulating visual and sensory elements to challenge the way we think about emotion.
So other than photography, how else do you spend your time?
I really enjoy running and biking. I also really enjoy watching old films. If you haven’t checked out VCU kanopy you should. It is amazing how many foreign and independent films are available to stream as a student.
Where can people go to see more of your work?
My most current work is on Instagram. My username is fotomon83. I also have a website, although it is constantly under construction. (I need to work on that.) You can find some of my work at www.monicasescamilla.com