Art aficionados who spend weekends at museums or fashionistas who worship Neiman Marcus will both appreciate the photography of Thisbe Grace, a recent SMU alum. Grace’s exhibit, “Baubles and Champagne,” which opened last Saturday, covers the walls of her Deep Ellum studio with dazzling jewels, floating fabrics and brilliant colors designed to capture the senses.
Grace, a Cox Business School graduate and professional wedding photographer, collaborated with her husband Marc McWilliams, an international underwater photographer, to create stunning underwater photographs of models wearing custom jewelry. Grace’s use of light, texture and movement make every photograph unique. All of the images evoke a sense of movement: floating fabric or bubbles dancing to the water’s surface.
One striking photograph portrays a pale model clothed in a deep fuchsia dress, grasping a string of black pearls in her hand while sinking lifelessly to the bottom of the sea. A pensive but peaceful look fills her face-a trail of bubbles and the model’s reflection in the surface of the water are the only clues that she is underwater. The contrast of the colors is almost as contradicting as the serenity of a girl cascading to the ocean floor.
In addition to Grace’s photographs, the exhibit features a video montage created by Tom Maddrey and McWilliams. It gives behind-the-scenes footage of the shoot, showing the actual process unfold. Because the shoot takes place underwater, the techniques used were complicated; everything from the camera equipment to breathing considerations called for unique tactics. The video illustrates how Grace worked underwater, dealing with everything from the waterproof makeup techniques used to the issues the models dealt with constantly while trying to pose underwater.
Jewelry lovers will appreciate the glittering, gigantic diamonds and other precious stones covering the models. Anschar Diamonds sponsored the exhibit and worked closely with Grace during the shoot to ensure the jewels complemented the look she was trying to achieve in each photograph.
While the exhibit is small, the photographs are worth the drive to Deep Ellum. If you have never been to something like this before, Grace’s exhibit would be a wonderful place to start. Her warm personality makes visitors feel welcome as soon as they open the door to her studio. And SMU students can talk to Grace about the way she’s combined her entrepreneurial business degree with her passion for photography.
For more information visit www.thisbegrace.com.
