Light Work Annual 2011. Contact Sheet No. 162.

Light Work, Syracuse University, 2011. Includes photographs by Kelly Anderson-Staley; Sama Alshaibi and Dena Al-Adeeb; Ayana V. Jackson; Brian Ulrich; Christian Patterson; Lenard Smith; Susan Worsham; Gerard H. Gaskin; Simon Rowe; Shen Wei; Zoe Strauss; Richard Banres; Yasser Aggour; Ron Jude; Lida Suchy; Thilde Jensen; Marjory W. Wilkins; Gary Metz. New copy, no flaws. Summary:

Contact Sheet No. 162: Light Work Annual 2011 is an 88-page photography anthology that catalogs the work produced by the participants of Light Work's renowned Artist-in-Residence program and the recipients of the Light Work Grants.

Core Themes and Content

• The Artist-in-Residence Showcases: The primary focus of the annual is to highlight the diverse, contemporary image-makers who spent a month in Syracuse, New York, utilizing Light Work's facilities. The volume features portfolios and critical essays for a wide array of notable photographers, including Christian Patterson, Zoe Strauss, Brian Ulrich, Ayana V. Jackson, Shen Wei, Susan Worsham, Kelly Anderson-Staley, and Thilde Jensen, among others.

• Diverse Perspectives: The collection spans multiple genres, styles, and thematic concerns—ranging from intimate portraiture and documentary storytelling to conceptually driven and socially conscious photography. Notable projects featured include alternative processes like Kelly Anderson-Staley’s wet-plate tintypes and collaborative, culturally investigative work by Sama Alshaibi and Dena Al-Adeeb.

• Grant Recipient Recognition: In addition to the international and national residents, the annual spotlights regional photographic talent by featuring the work of the year's Light Work Grant recipients.

• Critical Contextualization: Edited with an introduction by Jeffrey Hoone, each artist's portfolio is accompanied by a dedicated essay written by contemporary curators, critics, and scholars. These texts provide essential context, analyzing how each artist used their residency to push the boundaries of their respective practices.

The publication functions as an important time capsule of contemporary photography in 2011, illustrating Light Work's ongoing mission to support emerging and under-recognized artists by giving them both the space to create and a permanent platform for their work.