Experience the visually dynamic country of Jordan through the eyes of award-winning Magnolia photojournalist Aaron Street by visiting his photography exhibit, “Jordan: Country of Contrast,” during the month of October in the Brinson Art Gallery at Southern Arkansas University.
A reception is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 2, 2012 in the gallery. The reception – free and open to the public – will transport visitors to the American-friendly Middle Eastern country of Jordan. Street has prepared 30 framed photographs that illustrate the beauty of the country, as well as dozens of photojournalistic photos that show everyday life in this Arabic land.
The photographs will be available to order, and portions of the proceeds will benefit the Art Department and Office of International Student Services at SAU.
“This will be my second photography exhibit the SAU Art Department has hosted for me in the Brinson Gallery,” said Street. “I’m so excited to be able to share so much of the beautiful landscapes, history, and people my wife, Viktoriya, and I experienced together in Jordan.”
During a month-long visit to Jordan in May of 2012, Street was able to capture images from the northern point of Jordan at the Roman city of Gadara, which overlooks the Israeli border, to the far southern border of Jordan at the Red Sea. He photographed a breathtaking sunset while floating in the Dead Sea. He walked up more than a thousand steps that date back thousands of years to photograph one of the world’s seven wonders – Petra. And he shot everyday life in Irbid and the village of Al Hosn.
“I titled this exhibit ‘Jordan: Country of Contrast’ because of the visual contrasts that my wife and I noticed immediately: an Arabic shepherd riding his donkey home as a businessman in his decked-out Mercedes flies by or a bright red poppy fluttering in the breeze amongst a brown landscape of stone and dry brush,” said Street. “And I am dedicating this show to my wife, who is the epitome of a strong, intelligent, beautiful woman. Jordan was my first exposure to life in a predominately Muslim country, and I thought it unfortunate that women lived under such rigid restrictions.”
Street graduated from SAU with a mass communications degree in 2001 and already had months under his belt at the Banner-News before finishing his coursework. He learned the ropes at the Magnolia newspaper before becoming chief photographer at the Texarkana Gazette. He returned to his alma mater as director of communications with more than 80 photography, writing, and design awards to his name.
In his position at SAU, he oversees all of the university’s marketing, communications, and public relations strategies. He still does break away from the office with camera in tow to capture life on campus. His images are the foundation for SAU’s promotional material and publications, and are featured in wall art in buildings across campus.
He is married to and inspired by Dr. Viktoriya Street, associate professor of biology at SAU. She and their combined three children, Lera, Bradley, and Jordan, are by far his favorite subjects to photograph.
