CATHERINE BAUKNIGHT

My goal as a photographer is to enhance the awareness of cultures by enabling them a voice to tell their own story. I research and visually document tradition and ethnology, to contribute greater knowledge of the family of man.

Ethiopia is the land of beautiful sculpted people rich in culture dating back to a great empire during the first century AD. The beginning of civilization is believed to have started in Ethiopia, the Horn of Africa. This is supported by the discovery of the oldest anthropoid ancestor of 4.4 million years.

In the Damota and Soddo districts about 250 miles south of the capital, Addis Ababa, I photographed villages of Ethiopian people who were suffering from prolonged drought, hunger, and disease caused by contaminated water. The mission in the summer of 2000 was to bring the dire need of aid to public awareness by documenting who the people are and the life style that they endure. The humanitarian agency, World Vision sponsored the project to assist in rehabilitation of the villagers.

I found that although the people of Ethiopia suffer, they exude pride, elegance, and a keen awareness of a positive life force. The traditional daily interaction of group singing, praying aloud, and just sitting with family and friends keeps them rich with joy. Their days are filled with chores for basic survival such as walking for hours to fetch water, and harvesting wood for fire. Their body language is poised while they move through each day as a dance of life.

EDUCATION

1998-1999 University of North Carolina Charlotte BFA Art with concentration in Photography – minor in Art History

1998 Studio Art Center International, Florence Italy Documentary Photography and Renaissance Art History

1977-1980 Landstuhl, Germany Photography Apprenticeship under photographer Harold Jacobs

PHOTOJOURNALISM WORK EXPERIENCE AND SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

2003 Contract Photographer for Zumapress, international photo news agency.

Currently: Photojournalist and Documentary Photographer. Published by The Los Angeles Times, World Vision, Pasadena
Weekly, Novella Publishing Co., The Lancaster News, and Daily Journal.

1999-2001 Daily Journal and Our Times - Los Angeles Times.

1987-1999 Photographer for The New York Times, USA TODAY, Time Magazine, Newsweek Magazine, and People Magazine. Based in Charlotte, NC.

1986 – 1999 Contract Photographer for Sipa Press

1980-1999 Stringer photographer for the Charlotte Observer.

1984 -1986 Chief Photographer for The Leader , Charlotte, NC

PHOTOGRAPHY Adjunct Professor

2003–Currently Black and White Photography and Lab Adjunct Professor, Cal State Polytechnic University, Pomona

2002 Basic Photo and Black and White Lab Adjunct Professor, Mt. San Antonio College

2000-2001 UCLA-Extension, Environmental Portraits Instructor

2001-2002 City of Torrance Cultural Center, Basic Photo Instructor

1997-1999 - Photography instructor, Queens College

1986-1998 Central Piedmont Community College. Subjects taught Basic Photography and Photojournalism

JOURNALISM

1999- 2003 -Editorial column with photographic essays for the Lancaster News.

1980-1999 Freelance Feature Writer - Charlotte Observer

1989 -1999 Feature writer for Break Magazine / Charlotte Observer.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND HONORS

2002 - “World Youth Day” – Pope John Paul II Photo Essay and Book

1999-2001 - Chairperson of National Press Photographer’s Association Women’s Committee- Region 10

2000 - Photo Exhibit, “Renaissance of the Catawba Indians” – Capitol Building, Washington, D.C.

1999 - Public Art Exhibition, 'China - A GLASS HOUSE" No. 1, 3rd St. Promenade Santa Monica, CA. Photography and Performance Art. Commemoration of 10th anniversary of Tiananmen Square

1999 - Public Art Exhibition, " China - A GLASS HOUSE" No. 2, Chinese Consulate

1999 - Public Art Project To Give An Identity of The West Blvd. Project

Through Photography and Videography for black history and
developmental aid for the city of Charlotte, NC

1999 - Photographic documentary, "The Renaissance of The Catawba Indians", one-person show, Cone Center, UNCC.

1998 - Tiananmen Square Photo Exhibit, Museum of Torrance, Los Angeles, CA

1998 - Public art photographic mural for the Center Point Human Resource Center 4x8 feet, Winston Salem, NC

1997 - 1998 North Carolina Arts Council Touring and Resident Artist Directory

1997 - 1998 Charlotte's Web-photographer chosen for web site open studio, N.E.A.

1997 - A permanent exhibit of ten 4x8 feet photographs on Charlotte and NC at the Charlotte Convention Center

1997 - Documentation of the building of the Interstate Johnson and Lane Financial Center, (IJL) for permanent exhibition in the building

1996 - Public Art photographic mural to represent Charlotte, permanent display in Ericsson Stadium, 29 feet by 9 feet

1996 - The cover and inside photographs of the book on Charlotte life and culture, CHARLOTTE NOTHING COULD BE FINER

1995 - A permanent exhibit of photographic documentation of the artist painting the murals on exhibit at The Charlotte Convention Center

1995 - Three 3x5 foot photographs on permanent exhibit at the Charlotte Convention Visitors Center covering lifestyles in Charlotte

1992 - Emerging Artist Award, The North Carolina Arts and Science Council of Charlotte Mecklenberg, Inc.

1990 - Exhibitions of coverage of the Tiananmen Square Massacre throughout the southeastern United States sponsored by a grant from Bank of America

Memberships:

Member of the National Press Photographer Association

Member of Women in Photography International

Member of Visual Artists Guild

email: cbauknight@othilamedia.com

www.catherinebauknight.com

EDUCATION