Ariah Jade
Eden seeks to make tangible an essence of faith and a romanticized reflection of my lived experience as a Christian. This work was largely inspired by the words of world-renowned author and fellow Christian, Madeleine L’engle. In her book Walking on Water, she writes about how her own experience as an artist and a Christian are one in the same. She cannot talk about one without mentioning the other and it is in this relationship that she works to find and express what gives her life meaning. L’engle’s perspective is shared with my own, and it was her words that helped to find within me the firstfruits of Eden.
Inspired by the past two years that I’ve spent in the Book of Genesis from the Bible, motifs from Italian Renaissance painting, and my theological training as a budding Biblical Scholar, Eden has become a world of its own where the role of the feminine is reimagined and theology is bridged with art. I spent a lot of time in prayer and worship during the making process, desiring to glorify God through the images and share a testimony of what it may look like to reach freedom and peace. While in front of the camera, I thought often about the Garden of Eden and what it must have been like to walk alongside the fullness of God and the lifelong pursuit it takes now to do just that. Over time, Eden became the place I would go to reflect on what it means for me to have faith, be a woman of faith, and share that faith in some way with others.
I invite you to take a step back and join me in the story that Eden seeks to tell. I hope this work touches your spirit deep within; the parts of yourself that fight to find meaning, purpose, and peace amidst all the things of life that make great efforts to take it away.
Eden
About
As a woman of faith, Ariah Jade finds the pursuit of translating the beauty, intentionality, and purpose of the world around me to be an absolute gift. It is through this lens that she seeks to authentically capture the value of each moment lived and created.
Ariah’s passion for photography stemmed in childhood from her love for reading. With love, an author carefully writes a story that comes alive in our minds and it is from this that she learned to see differently. Because of this, she gravitates towards vivid colors, movement, texture, and character; striving to create vibrant images that honor the moment you’re in and the story we’re trying to tell.
Ariah approaches image-making with an editorial flare through a mix of film and digital photography, and beautiful prints on archival paper that capture your legacy and can be passed down through generations. Her prayer is that your time together is an extension of the fond memory you are trying to capture.
In May 2022, Ariah Jade will graduate with a B.A. in Photography and Media Arts and a B.A. in Religious and Theological Studies. When she is not behind the camera, she is working on her graduate studies in theology and biblical scholarship, eating good food, and serving on the production team at her church in Austin, TX.
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