Elaine Norman

Artist Statement

Many years ago, I was given a photography assignment in college to create a self-portrait and realized that my inherent shyness could be transformed while posing in front of my camera. After graduating, and drawing inspiration from popular and local culture, I reveled in assuming a variety of quirky personas. The City of New York offered endless opportunities for inspiration. From the Greenwich Village Parade to the Coney Island Mermaid Parade, both in their early freewheeling days, anyone could spontaneously join in these unstructured, carefree spectacles of assorted colorful characters. The warm feeling of camaraderie was liberating and made me feel welcome, joyful, and free to explore my own creative expression. These three works – all self portraits, are part of a continuing series.