Jess Maples: Nurture Aperture

March 6 – May 29, 2020
Jess Maples: Nurture Aperture
Opening reception: Friday, March 6, 5:00-9:00 PM

With two showcases in Nashville and one in New York City, Jess Maples is finally bringing her one-of-a-kind exhibit to Knoxville for a homecoming event. The past three years, Jess collected various responses to the question “How do YOU let the light in?” and sought after the perfect photographs to match the answers. The title of each photograph is a direct answer that came from her survey question.

Every year in her 20’s, Jess uses her birthday month of March to not only celebrate another year, but to push her voice further; examples include volunteering in an orphanage in South Africa, writing advocacy pieces for mental health and sexual assault, and publicly sharing vulnerable testimonies to both. This year, she blends her advocacy with her first love: photography.

Nurture Aperture is Jess’s movement designed to teach the world self love. “ I started this project to offer a few moments of reflection for guests. This is more about an experience rather showing what I can do with a camera. With mental illness at an all time high, it is easy for us to focus on the darkness in life. My desire is to show others the beauty of fostering the openings that let the light in– in nurturing their aperture.”

Each piece is printed locally at Picture It Custom on recycled aluminum. All photos are shot with a Sony A7 and A7III. Only minor post processing in Adobe Lightroom is used. Jess Maples is born and raised in Knoxville, TN.

For more information, follow her on Instagram @jessmaples.photo.