I Found U Collective - I Found U by the River

Artists: Edie Beaucage, Marisa Bernotti, Heather Brammeier, Nina Gospodin, Elena Kalkova, James Jaxxa, Janet Lee, Nigel Meager, Clark Valentine

I Found U Collective is a group of artists from all over the world, including Peoria's own Heather Brammeier. Brammeier was the intermediary for creating the artworks in I Found U by the River. She took a walk with her camera along the Illinois River and snapped photos continuously during that walk. At times, she turned around to capture the view behind her, at other times she zoomed in on details in the scene in front of her. Each artist selected the photos they were to manipulate, draw on, collage with, or otherwise transform into a new image of the Peoria Riverfront.

The process of interpreting a scene from a distant location is what I Found U Collective calls roving reflection. An artist creates photographic imagery from their location to share with the other artists. These artists interact with the images artistically, through digital manipulation, collage, drawing, painting, or a combination of approaches. The results are then exhibited in the location of the original photo documentation, where residents enjoy seeing the interpretations and investigations based on their hometown.