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October 30, 2018

By Sasha Steinberg | Mississippi State University

A Mississippi State architecture major with a passion for photography will see her work recognized in an international exhibition in Vermont next month.

“Guided by the Moon,” a digital collage by Heather L. Gillich of Gulfport, will appear in the “Fictional Narrative” exhibition Dec. 6-Jan. 5 at PhotoPlace Gallery in Middlebury, Vermont. The international exhibition was juried by Emma Powell, an assistant professor of art at Colorado College who is known for creating art that visualizes questioning scenarios transcending the moment.

When reviewing submissions for “Fictional Narrative,” Powell was drawn to images that made her curious about their greater context or storyline.

“I also looked for the mysterious images that conveyed intimate details while also relating to more universal themes,” she said.

Gillich is enrolled this semester in the advanced photography course taught by MSU Professor Marita Gootee. Gillich said the setting of “Guided by the Moon” is Discovery Park in Seattle, Washington, where she was “lucky enough to catch a figure walking along the shoreline.”

“When I took the photo back to my computer, I instantly saw the opportunity to exaggerate the curve of the shoreline. I decided to do so by multiplying and placing the figure in a descending order along its path,” Gillich said. “Next, I thought about what the figure was walking toward or following. That is when I came up with the idea to create a nighttime sky scene with emphasis on the moon. I felt like the final image told a clear story about the figure at this point.”

By depicting the moonlit beach and a duplicated traveler walking on the shoreline, Gillich hopes to inspire the viewer to question the search for his or her own dreams.

Also serving as area coordinator of the art department’s photography concentration, Gootee said the goal of her advanced photography class is to have students create a series of creative images based on one concept, a challenge that encourages them to “push beyond the cliché.”

“I believe in the students in the 91���� because this college houses the most creative talent in the state. Heather Gillich is one such example,” Gootee said. “I am proud of Heather for taking the risk to enter a professional competition. I am not surprised that her work was accepted. She is a very talented artist.”

To view more of Gillich’s work, visit .

Part of MSU’s 91����, the School of 91���� offers the only curriculum in the state of Mississippi leading to a professional degree in architecture. Learn more at , and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @CAADatMSU.

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