Catherine Just
About
Catherine Just (http://www.catherinejust.com) is a visual artist, an award winning fine art photographer and an intuitive healer based in Los Angeles. Her photography and mixed media artwork explore the metaphysical and emotional realms linked inside the human experience, specifically inside intimacy. She prefers using a 4×5 film camera and a 4×5 Pinhole camera alternative processes and long exposures along with Self Portraiture to investigate what lives in-between the words. She received her BFA in Conceptual Photography, Film and Video from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, apprenticed with Miguel Ruiz (author of The Four Agreements) and has certifications in subconscious reprogramming techniques which all weave into her artwork and her continued exploration into the human psyche and spirituality. She has 36 years of continuous sobriety from a meth addiction, getting sober at 18 years old. Catherine’s personal experience of recovery is the foundation of her inquiry into the human condition. Her work has been awarded, exhibited and published widely, including The cover of National Geographic Magazine, inside O Magazine, exhibiting at Les Rencontres d’Arles, France, A group show with Alta Vista Art in Paris,France, Photos de Femme: Chateau Lomenie and Chateau de LaLande in France, Newspace Center of Photography, Portland, OR, Minnesota Center of Photography, Mpls, MN, Los Angeles Center of Photography, WhiteWalls Art Projects Gallery, New South Wales, Australia among many others. Catherine’s work is represented by WhiteWalls Art Projects Gallery, New South Wales, AUS. She teaches courses, leads retreats in France and offers healing & coaching sessions. She’s the single parent of her 15 year old son Max, who happens to have Down syndrome. They’re working on art and photography projects that raise awareness about Ableism and Down syndrome.
Gallery
LACP Interviews Catherine Just
LACP asks Catherine Just ten questions about their background, career in and beliefs about photography.
Los Angeles Center of Photography: What kind of photographer are you?
Catherine Just: I’m a Fine Art Photographer exploring the metaphysical and emotional realms linked inside the human experience, specifically inside intimacy. I love using film and Polaroid cameras, mainly a 4×5 film camera and a 4×5 Pinhole camera and a Polaroid SX-70. I also love cameraless alternative processes and printing in the darkroom. I use long exposures, stitching, writing, painting and gold leaf in my photography work. I use Self Portraiture and objects as symbolism and metaphor to investigate what lives in-between the words.
LACP: How long have you been photographing?
CJ: I got my start in 1990 when I was in Art school.
LACP: Where did you get your training?
CJ: I have a BFA from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I’ve continued learning through workshops and getting mentoring from photographers at LACP and around the world.
LACP: When did you know you wanted to devote your life to photography?
CJ: The moment the guidance counselor made us pick a major I blurted “Photography” on a whim and never looked back.
LACP: Did you ever come close to giving up?
CJ: I’ve definitely come close to giving up. I just shifted the focus of my work which kept me engaged.
LACP: Have you sacrificed anything by being a photographer?
CJ: Financial Security (or the potential that “they” say is possible if I would go get a “regular” job.)
LACP: What have you gained by being a photographer?
CJ: I believe Visual art and Conceptual/Fine art Photography was a major part of saving my life when I got sober from a meth addiction. It gave me a way to funnel my emotions and struggles into self portraiture and it became a type of medicine in my healing process. When I use my camera It forces me to focus on the present moment. It’s a type of meditation or conscious contact with source. I often say that when I look through the lens of my camera I see a version of God, or source looking back at me. It’s life altering. I also get to investigate how to take something you can’t see with your eyes like an emotion and turn it into a visual poem. Basically taking a trigger and turning it into a treasure. It helps me see in a new way. It offers clues to what exists outside my own eyesight.
LACP: What classes do you teach at LACP?
CJ: TBA. It will be a course designed around using Self Portraiture as a tool for personal healing and transformation.
LACP: What do you love most about teaching?
CJ: I love offering people opportunities to take what’s potentially painful in their lives and turn that into their own visual poem. I love witnessing people move through a process of exploration, awareness and the awakening that happens when they find a way to say visually what lives underneath the surface. I love when breakthroughs happen that help them know themselves in a deeper way.
LACP: What advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a career in photography?
CJ: Find Mentors to learn from, take classes to continue to expand your craft and surround yourself with supportive like minded photographers and people that can help with the business aspect of being a photographer. Basically, don’t try to go it alone if you can help it. And KEEP GOING.