Project Statement:
GIRL WRESTLE is a visual account of the growth of girls’ youth wrestling in North Carolina. Through a series of black-and-white still images, documentary photographer Rachel Jessen investigates themes of social conditioning, embodiment, identity, and power. Scenes captured from club practices and team tournaments combine to create a holistic view of the distinct individuals that have been brought together by their love of the sport.
Artist Bio:
Rachel Jessen is a documentary photographer based in Durham, NC. Before coming to Duke University’s MFA in Experimental and Documentary Arts, she worked as a photojournalist and photographer’s assistant in Iowa.
