Analog Artist Sabrina Dennis' First Exhibition Ever
Artist Series: Sabrina Dennis
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Artist Series: Sabrina Dennis 〰️
An epic Sabrina Dennis selfie.
It is no surprise that we are not only excited by but equally inspired by analog artists. The tinkering of the machines, the look of a freshly developed batch of film, and the beauty of a grain is something digital apps will never master. Film just hits different, ya know?
It was a natural fit to have multi-media analog artist Sabrina Dennis join Austin Cinemaker Space in 2021. We first met Sabrina during the height of the pandemic through our virtual PLAY AT HOME low-pressure learning series —where we met folks all over the world in artist workshops curated by our team.
Dennis is our newest featured artist for our newly minted program: Artist in Motion (more details coming soon). Sabrina’s work explores the complexities of femininity and womanhood on film. Her first-ever exhibit opens on Friday, April 29 at 7pm at Motion Media Arts Center. The opening photo exhibit will include food, drinks, and a good time! Open to the public, 18+. You can RSVP here.
We caught up with Dennis to ask her about her work, womanhood, and her exhibit. Read below to learn more about this up-and-coming artist and get excited for Friday’s opening.
THE INTERVIEW
You’re originally from San Antonio, what brought you to Austin?
I really needed a change of pace! I wanted to be somewhere close to my family, but also where I would have more opportunities as an artist.
Photo of Dennis, by Dennis
As a multimedia analog artist, how did you first get into photography and what drew you to it?
I first got into photography around 18 or so. I would just take photos of my friends when we were out or of random things I saw. I think my first interest in being creative with it is when I got my fisheye camera and realized I could make photos look better than just casual outings. I’m not great at drawing or writing, but visual art helps me express myself and that’s when I fell in love with it.
What does identifying as an analog artist mean to you?
I grew up poor, so starting out young I could only afford film because at the time it was cheaper than digital believe it or not. So I would shoot with my $50 film camera for years. I lost so many rolls of film starting out from not knowing what I was doing yet. So now I just feel like that’s all part of me and my art. Plus to me the images look so much better, and I love the whole DIY aspect of it too, it makes your art so much more customizable when you can pick filmstock, developing and scanning, and editing—it’s like your vision from start to finish.
How does creating in Austin affect your art, as opposed to other places you’ve lived or worked?
Well I never had access to a studio space like this before so that vastly improved my work as well as taking classes, etc to learn more techniques. I also have gotten so much more confident with shooting and working with people so that definitely shows. I’ve gotten to work with so many amazing models too so that’s been great!
“I grew up poor, so starting out young I could only afford film because at the time it was cheaper than digital believe it or not. So I would shoot with my $50 film camera for years. I lost so many rolls of film starting out from not knowing what I was doing yet. So now I just feel like that’s all part of me and my art.”
What is your connection to the Motion Media Arts Center?
I was looking into Austin School of Film when I was moving here in 2018. I really want to get into filmmaking as well just because it has more opportunities for expression visually and otherwise. Then in 2020, when the pandemic hit, I lost my job and was staying inside all the time. It seemed like a good time to start taking classes and Austin School of Film was hosting zoom classes. I signed up for the 16mm direct animation workshop and I got so obsessed I think I took it like 5 times. Now, I’ve taken a bunch of classes and am in the Digital Video Certificate Program. My favorite class I took was Avant Garde and Experimental Filmmaking class. We shot short films on super 8 film and developed and edited out films in class. I was super honored to be featured in the SXSW showcase this year with the film I made in that class, Virgo Moon.
How have specific life experiences affected your approach to film and photography?
It’s crazy like, it’s a part of me that I can’t really explain. But I try to encompass a lot of things, like how I feel about being a woman, and how beautiful and painful it is, and dark at times, but also bright and happy and sexy. I try to direct models to use their bodies in ways how I see myself in a weird sense. And I like for film to be gritty and raw, but glam.
This is your first time exhibiting work. How does it make you feel? What does this exhibition mean to you?
I’m so honored to get do this, it’s always been a dream of mine. It’s exciting that people will get to see my work blown up in real life and not just on their phones or computers.
What is your inspiration for this showcase? What other photographers, artists, and styles inspire you and how have you drawn from and incorporated their work? Where do you think your work diverges and is uniquely Sabrina?
I’m really inspired by Ren Hang, I think he did a great job of balancing darkness with beauty on film using vibrant colors. My work is different than Ren’s work in so many ways. His was so shocking at times, it was disgusting, but like I can’t look away or get it out of my head. He shot nude people, but I feel like was less sexual than some of my work. I aspire to have like 10% of his talent and sad he’s gone way too soon.
When I see your work, I think of the parallels between strength and femininity. Is this intentional in how you style your shoots? How do you go about styling a shoot and curating your style?
Thank you! Yes that’s definitely intentional, I was raised by a single mom and have a strong sister and I learned at a young age to be hyper independent as a woman. I think sexuality is really powerful whether that be confidence in your mind and body, having sex, not having sex, all of it. I think a powerful, attractive, and confident woman is intimidating for a lot of people, so it’s really inspiring to me. I style based off the model, I’ll usually make a mood board and send it to the model. Then, decide who will pull looks together depending on if I’m able to collab with a stylist on the shoot. I love collaborating with different artists.
What do you hope viewers walk away feeling or thinking after seeing your work?
I hope they walk away feeling some of the energy from not only my work, but the people in the images as well. I’ve genuinely loved shooting with everyone that I have, so I hope that shows.
“I try to encompass a lot of things, like how I feel about being a woman, and how beautiful and painful it is, and dark at times, but also bright and happy and sexy.”
Dennis’ showcase kicks off on Friday, April 29 at 7pm at Motion Media Arts Center. The opening photo exhibit and member meetup is free and open to the public. You can RSVP here.
Written by Emma Johnson (they/them), Social Media intern
Emma Johnson is a 20-something year old white, queer, nonbinary filmmaker who is interested in independent film engagement and marketing. Their films and creative work center queerness and question how systems of racial capitalism affect interpersonal relationships. They have a background in Sociology and are interested in creating art that questions dominant power structures such as whiteness and heteropatriarchy. Their creative content includes visual poetry, narrative, and documentary film styles as well as poetry and film photo collage. Outside of film and writing, they enjoy bike rides, reading memoirs, and sharing food with loved ones.