Susan Barnett

Susan Barnett Resume

Susan Barnett’s photographs are not about the t-shirts per se. “Not In Your Face” is a series about identity, validation, and perception. The artist looks for individuals who stand out in a crowd by the choice of the message on their back. The messages are combinations of pictures and words that reveal much about the identity of the wearer. They tell us who these people are and who they are not, who they want to be and what they want us to know about them. They demonstrate how individuals wear a kind of badge of honor that says “I belong to this group, not the other.” They advertise their hopes, ideals, dislikes, or political views. These individuals create their own iconography exploring the cultural, political, and social issues that impact our lives today. In light of bullying and stereotyping, “Not In Your Face” seeks a better understanding of our own judgments and biases. It presents a time capsule of the kind of messages that people are willing to wear and share without fear of reprisal.