In today’s view of our Atelier 32 artists, we look at the work of Kevin Belanger. His series, A Long Desire, was inspired by our current pandemic and its new reality. After retiring from the Postal Service into a world of anxiety and longing, Belanger worked during the Atelier to visualize this new reality by crafting a project that helps him cope with our new normal.
Which of these images was the impetus for this series? How did it inform how you completed the series?
© Kevin Belanger – Flight
The one of the family which I titled “Flight”for the exhibition was seminal. It lead me to shoot for empty or “safe” spaces. The church is titled “Sanctuary”. I suppose the family was”fleeing” to the imagined safety of the city, “A Long Desire”. Or a safety that was past and only to be hoped for.
How the Atelier has helped you hone your vision as an artist?
© Kevin Belanger – A Long Desire
The greatest benefit of the Atelier was in sharpening my focus as I discovered my project. The exercises were extremely beneficial when it came to telling a story and establishing and crafting a series.
© Kevin Belanger – Sanctuary
Tell us what is next for you creatively.
I plan to take the Atelier in the, I hope, not too distant future and perhaps continue my photographic education.
