Making 'FAINT' with Julisa Marie Powell
Photographs courtesy of FAINT.
What began as a simple photo shoot featuring pastel colors, turned into FAINT. An entire exhibition with consequential significance.
“FAINT is inspired by what the journey of resilience can lead to,” says Julisa Powell, Co-Creative Director and Muse for the exhibit. “It speaks to the strength inside of you that won’t let you quit.”
The idea for the exhibit spawned in early February when photographer, Joshua “Dion” Clayton, reached out to Powell with a simple idea for a shoot. Having previously worked with him on several other projects, Powell trusted the vision - and the rest is history.
“The funny thing is, originally, it was not going to be an exhibit at all! But after production, we quickly realized that we had something special on our hands and we needed to share it in a big way. The original idea was very simple: Do a photo shoot using one pastel color. Then we expanded on that idea, until we carved out a vision for the first shoot. Everything else leading to what is now known as FAINT, organically fell into place. [And] that only happens when you’re working with people who make room for the direction the art takes itself.”
“The word ‘faint’ by definition means barely perceptible, slight, lacking in strength or weak. That’s how we chose to describe the lighter color choices,” she went on to say. “But just because something is faint, doesn’t mean it lacks power or the ability to harm. For example, poisonous carbon dioxide gas can kill you but it has a very faint scent - if detectable at all.”
“One day, while reading the Bible, I came across the word ‘faint’ in a scripture;
“When my spirit grows faint within me it is you who watch over my way.”
[At that point in the process] this verse was truly a testament to what we’d collectively experienced as a team; the heartbreaks, the failures, the disputes, passing of family members, illnesses, financial losses, burdens, the sacrifices…” she reminisced.
“But the beauty was in our strength and resilience. And ‘FAINT’ embodies all of this.”
Because the project took on such a life of it’s own, Powell made sure to note how important attention to detail was throughout the process.
“Creatively, hands down, this is all of our best work to date. My favorite thing about the exhibit, after the actual body of work, is the [attention to] details. We took a lot of time to think about how it was going to feel when you walk through space.”
The traveling exhibit, which opens August 30th in St. Louis, MO, is said to have a powerful message that will resonate with viewers in one way or another.
“We wanted to reserve/protect that first real engagement with the art…so we had to make sure that we kept parts of the main message exclusive for the attendees while promoting it,” Powell shared.
“I want people to walk away from the exhibit knowing that they don’t have to wait for a platform. I hope it inspires more collaborations amongst creatives (artists, models, actresses, painters, musicians, etc.). Most importantly, I hope that people leave with an inspiration to truly invest more in what they create.”
In addition to modeling and co-curating the shoot, the self-dubbed “creativeprenuer” also served as co-stylist, makeup artist, hair stylist, and one of 3 coordinators for the collaborative art exhibit. Joshua “Dion” Clayton and Jaz’min Franks are the other contributors to FAINT. Dion; the Lead Photographer, Creative Director, Co-Stylist and visionary behind the shoot. Jaz’min; the 2nd Photographer, Behind-the-Scenes Director/Photographer, and Promotional Video Editor.
Be sure to check out the exhibit this weekend if you’re in the St. Louis area. If you’re not in the St. Louis area, be sure to subscribe to find out when FAINT will be in a city near you! Until then, enjoy an exclusive look at the BTS film for the exhibit [below].
For more information on the exhibit this weekend, click here.