PNC Presents “Uniforms, Outfits & Accessories” Art Exhibit

PNCThe Purdue University North Central Odyssey Arts and Cultural Events Series will feature an exhibit of immersive photographs by Joel DeGrand titled, “Uniforms, Outfits & Accessories.” The exhibit runs through May in the PNC Library-Student-Faculty Building, Room 02 in the building’s lower level. It is free and is open to the public and may be viewed by appointment only.

The photographs study uniforms and outfits, a part of the human experience since the Stone Age.

DeGrand notes, “Every society has a dress code that is well defined and understood by most members of that particular group. The dress code has specific rules, which in turn signal a message given by a person's clothing and the way it is worn. The message may indicate income, social class, religious affiliation, attitude, sexual orientation, marital status, or sexual availability. It may be seen in the clothes worn in the armed services, the paramilitary, the police, security guards and the clergy. It can also be seen in shops, banks, post offices, airports, bars, restaurants and hotels, sports teams, clubs, schools and prisons. Sometimes corporations use uniforms to create a brand or corporate image.”

Through his photography, DeGrand intends to portray “those unique uniforms, outfits and accessories that best exemplify any particular culture and hopefully tell the story of the individual who wears these outfits.”

DeGrand holds an MFA in photography from the University of Oregon and a BS in Art Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He has been a photographer since his early childhood and has taught art and photography since 1968. He has participated in numerous one-person, group exhibitions and workshops in the U.S. and abroad. His work is featured in museums, corporations, private collections and publications. He has published 16 books of his photography and won many awards for his work, including a National Endowment for the Arts grant.

To schedule an appointment to view this exhibit or to obtain further information, contact Judy Jacobi, PNC assistant vice chancellor of Marketing and Campus Relations, at 785-5200, ext. 5593. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Jacobi.