A local photographer and documentarian is showcasing her photography at an exhibit at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith through Sept. 29, with a reception slated from 5-6 p.m. Aug. 30.

 

“See Who You Are,” a collection of 15 photographs by Brenda Yelvington, is currently on display in the Smith-Pendergraft Campus Center at UAFS, depicting “the uniqueness and beauty of individuals in ordinary moments.”

 

“I believe that as Byron Katie says, ‘We see who we are when we see who we think other people are,’” Yelvington said. “I often describe the individuals in my photos as characters or with emotions. For example, I say, ‘He’s a dreamer,’ or, ‘Look at the sadness in her body language.’ But then I realized that not everyone sees the photo in the same way. Is it possible that who I am is determining what I see? And if that is true, what can I learn by looking at the photos through someone else’s eyes? From that light-bulb moment, this exhibit was born.”

 

While relatively new to photography, Yelvington is better known for her acclaimed documentary “Leaving a Legacy,” which chronicles a year in the lives of Northside High School band members.

 

The exhibit is sponsored by the Chancellor’s Coalition for the Visual Arts and is located on the west end of the first floor of the campus center. Exhibit hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Fridays. For more information about the exhibit, contact the UAFS Box Office at 479-788-7300.