LAM Collective had the honor of hosting a visit with Professor Kate Shannon, who is the 2025-26 Artist Laureate for Ohio State.
Prof. Shannon introduced us to art that responded to gaps and silences in photography archives, including her own work. She also invited LAM Collective members to participate in this work by first showcasing historical photos of the hair salons at the Ohio Reformatory for Women. Each photo that we saw spoke to the lived experiences of these women. This was not only valuable, but purposeful. Prof. Shannon’s activity helped the collective build connections between art, text, and history. We learned that photos have language, that we can each hear different sounds in still images when we take the initiative to listen. We collaborated in critiquing each photograph for hidden language that was unspoken yet closely observed. In doing so, it revealed things that were relevant to our own lives and research.
We also had the pleasure of creating our own zines using copies of the historical photos of the hair salons at the ORW. This activity was especially interesting because the members of our collective are currently working on our own personal hair bios which reflect our lived experiences in our hair journeys. We also experienced the physicality of making a zine with only the supplies within prison. Instead of cutting and gluing things together, we ripped the paper with our hands and created sharp edges with nothing but spit and fingernails. Much like Prof. Shannon’s work explored her own physical relationship and presence within photography archives, LAM Collective was able to physically connect with ORW’s past and assert our embodied presence in the archives.