The Menil Collection Bookstore is pleased to present the work of Melissa Laree Cunningham and JANE April 1–31, 2018.
Melissa Laree Cunningham is a photographer, artist, librarian, and mother from Houston, TX. Her photographs capture intimate, raw everyday moments with her gentle, every curious eye. She has shown work in the One by One exhibition in Austin, Texas (2015), Feast Your Eyes (with Houston Center for Photography and My Table Magazine) (2016), and FLATS presents Women (2016).
Melissa is also the founder of the artist photobook publishing company, JANE. Based out of Houston, JANE works with photographers, designers, and shops from Texas and beyond to create high quality works in print from emerging and seasoned artists. Through JANE, Melissa brings us her first book GIRLSGIRLSGIRLS, ruminating on the idea of girlhood as a state of mind, a freeness “in fun, in friendship, in nature, in sensuality, in letting loose of expectations even for a moment.”
About the book the author says, “GIRLSGIRLSGIRLS looks at the easy, intimate spaces of being a girl…not woman, not label, not obligation, not sex, not wife, not competition. Just girlhood, when young, while aging. Many parts of our selves or our bodies are co-opted for some other purpose or person, but in quiet or safe or personal moments, girls have a vibrancy and closeness in life.”
We invite you to join us for a reception on April 13th, 5–7 p.m., at the Bookstore, 1520 Sul Ross Street.