Guardian Angels Photo Project Fundraiser

My name is Ilana Grollman. I am a photography student at Emerson College. My mother passed away about a year ago. For my BFA one year capstone project, I decided to work on images related to my grief and showcasing the emotional journey of me and my father. I am halfway done with the project so I am fundraising to help cover the cost of traveling, film, photo paper, and costs of printing as I plan on making a book in a few months. This project is titled Guardian Angels. My artist statement is below. I appreciate any and all donations or just even the viewing of the images <3. The project is for and dedicated to Rita Stein-Grollman. Much love.

Artist statement:

Guardian Angels explores my process with grief and new relationship with my mother, who passed away a year ago. By creating images with nature, abstraction, my body, and father, I aim to showcase a full picture of the stages of grief, and emphasize how it is not a linear emotion. To me, grief is one of the most difficult emotions to articulate with words. Creating this series also serves as a way for me to heal through art, and share with others where I’m at in my journey.

Guardian Angels is as much about the photos as it is the experience of capturing them. Journaling helps me create intention behind each image. The writing varies from discussing dreams featuring my mom to my general mood of the week. While taking photos, I bring my mom’s artifacts with me while I work. Sometimes, I’ll keep her journal with me and photograph it, or listen to music that she enjoyed to feel closer to her.

Travel plays a big role as well. I spent a weekend in Baltimore, which is where my mom is from, to retrace her life, and learn more about her. I went back to New York City, to photograph in our old home. Each photo I take is a chance to get close to her again, and continue our relationship.

This project showcases my experience with grief, along with my father’s, in full authenticity while still appealing to universally relatable emotions. This allows viewers to explore their relationship with loss, and hopefully learn more about themselves and their grief from these images.

My mother exists in every image I take. She is the reason for their creation. At times, I wish this project did not exist, because then I wouldn’t have to mourn her loss. However, I am grateful for the opportunity to honor her, and capture her presence. My mom is my Guardian Angel. I reach for her wherever I go.