The O-town Scene

ARTIST of the month BACKGROUND Photographer Kylie Triola moved to Oneonta 12 years ago after having grown up on Long Island and graduating from Northeastern University in Boston. In addition to her photography work, Triola produces children's art, some of which is on display at the Green Toad Bookstore on Main Street in Oneonta. 365 SELF PORTRAITS In 2010, she decided to take a self portrait photograph every day for a year. "It really was a quest to find me again: to be present in every day, attentive to what I was learning, what I was feeling, and what I was doing. It was a calling to throw myself into creativity again. "I was drawing on my own thoughts and my own creativity each and every day. My professional photography continues in the same vein, engaging my thoughts and feelings with those people or objects I am capturing. My 365 reminded me of the importance of being aware of the world around me _ God around me, people around me _ and how I connected to them. Being aware has been about noticing things that I don't often stop to notice, whether that's something going on inside of me or the way rain drips on the window or what it looks like to cry. "I want my art to evoke something deeper than just what is seen. Forcing myself to be in front of the camera for a year allowed me to learn a lot about what it means to be seen, to be exposed, to be captured. "I found that was such a valuable lesson as a photographer so that I can connect with the person I am photographing _ know- ing that when they are on the other side of the camera they feel vulnerable and exposed as well. It has helped me capture who (my subjects) really are. "I hope to learn more about how my photography and art can be an expression of my soul. I desire for my art to evoke emo- tion, deeper thought and unspoken stories." 8 O-Town Scene Jan. 12, 2012

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