PLAY

Defining I

A multimedia capstone exploring Korean adoptees’ reflections on identity 

A blur motion capture of the “Defining I: Reflections on Adoption and Identity” exhibit.

Artist Statement

I’m adopted from South Korea. At one point in my life, this statement was a hard idea to grasp. However, growing up in a multicultural background and with the right support, I’ve grown to become proud of who I am. For my undergraduate honors capstone, I explored cross-cultural adoption and identity issues through the lens of Korean Adoptees. It was through this project that I got a clearer understanding of my own identity and a better understanding of how other adoptees define their own. 

Outcome

With the funding I received from the Renee Crown Honors Program and Wise-Marcus Award Committee, I traveled to three cities to interview the voices of three Korean Adoptees. During my travels, I documented my process and later created a short film, exhibit, and project summary book.

Role
Creative Director

Focus Areas
Videography
Audio Mixing
Print Design
Exhibit Design

Project Duration
September 2015 - April 2016

Exhibit Location
ArtRage, Syracuse, NY

Exhibit Run Time
April 2016

Finding Diverse Perspectives

After researching transracial and international adoption, I decided to focus on the experiences of Korean American Adoptees (KADs). Using the power of online communities, I connected with KADs across the U.S. Given my capstone’s budget and timeframe, I chose three individuals for my documentary and traveled to meet them. Together with my videographer, we spent a few days listening to the stories of Jon, Story, and Lauren. Their voices (along with my own) helped to make up the capstone’s final deliverables.

Research

A silhouette image of Jon writing in a journal with a city skyline in the background.

Jon
Minnesota

A black-and-white image of Story looking over her shoulder along a nature boardwalk.

Story
New York

An image of Lauren working on a laptop in a cafe. The image shows the viewer looking at Lauren through a window and the reflection of the street is in the glass.

Lauren
New Hampshire / Massachusetts

A collection of Korean Adoptee interview transcripts broken into themes and ideas from Leah’s capstone “Defining I.”

Each interview was transcribed and organized into themes. From here, individual audio recordings were selected to fit the film and exhibit.

adopt [uh-dopt]

verb (used with object)
to take and rear (the child of other parents) as one’s own child, specifically by a formal legal act.

adapt [uh-dapt]

verb (used without object)
to adjust oneself to different conditions, environments, etc.

“I’m not Asian enough, but
I can’t fully integrate into the white culture I grew up with.”

— Jon

Documenting Adoptee Voices

We traveled to three cities to document the voices of three Korean Adoptees. Thier stories were woven into a short documentary. The goal of this film was to better understand how each Adoptee grew up and how they shaped their own identities in the process.

Please contact me via email at leahgarlock (dot) info (at) gmail (dot) com if you are interested in seeing this film.

A still taken by my videographer Luke Rafferty. It shows Jon walking across a parking garage bridge in Minnesota.

A still taken by my videographer Luke Rafferty. It shows Jon walking across a parking garage bridge in Minnesota.

Exhibiting Insights and Findings

While the film was being edited, the research and process was documented and curated into “Defining I” and exhibited for ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse, NY. Images, artifacts, and audio recordings let guests to listen to more in-depth stories from the three Adoptees interviewed.

An exhibit close up of a collection of images and exhibit placards.
A person lifts up the paper on one of the artworks which reveals a mirror and their reflection in it.
An image through a window of Leah looking at her phone in the exhibit space.
The front entrance of ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse, NY. It shows a big sign that advertises the “Defining I” exhibit.
The inside of ArtRage Gallery where guests can sign a book and read the overview of the exhibit on the wall.
A close up shot of the front entrance of ArtRage Gallery in Syracuse, NY. It shows a big sign that advertises the “Defining I” exhibit and the gallery’s hours.
An image of a series of photos in the exhibit along with a headset where viewers can listen to interview audio recordings.
An image that shows a person from the back lifting up the corner of one of the exhibit’s quotes.
An image of Leah and Jon taking a selfie in a pottery studio.
A collection of images, quotes, and exhibit placards.
An angled view of the exhibit with two people engaging with the content and viewing the space.
A large interview quote where guests can lift it up to reveal the image. Three exhibit placards are stacked on its right.
A person with headphones listens to the interview audio. They lift up the quote paper that rests on top of an exhibit image.
Two people look at the exhibit. They both stand in a corner of the exhibit.
Personal artifacts borrowed from Lauren for the exhibit. They are a doll and some personal items from her childhood and adulthood.
An image of the back of a person lifting up the quote paper to view the photo underneath it.

Wrapping it all up

As my capstone project came to a close, the final element was to design a short book to summarize my findings.

The front of the postcard advert and the “Defining I: Reflections on Adoption and Identity” book.
The first page of the “Defining I: Reflections on Adoption and Identity” book. It shows the title that covers the eyes of a younger Leah.
A spread from the “Defining I: Reflections on Adoption and Identity” book. A semi-translucent page with Korean is turned to reveal an image of Jon in his studio.
A spread from the “Defining I: Reflections on Adoption and Identity” book. It shows a small notebook insert with an image of Lauren and handwritten notes.
A spread from the “Defining I: Reflections on Adoption and Identity” book. It shows a large quote that says, “Being Adopted is an Extra Layer of Really Complex Shit (Jon).”
An image of a Chinese fortune that says, “Accept no other definition of your life, accept your own.”

Special Thanks

Behind every finished project is a team of supportive individuals and communities. Thank you for getting me across the finish line.

Funding
Renee Crown Honors Program
Wise-Marcus Award Committee

Capstone Advisors
Jeff Glendenning
Renee Stevens
Karen Hall

Support and Feedback
Michele Damato & Nathan
Gregory Heisler
Bill Padgett 
Michele’s CMD 450 Class (S16)

Adoptee Voices
Jon Straker
Story Post 
Lauren Santini

Collaborators
Luke Rafferty (video and photo)
Renee Zhou (exhibit photos)
Drew Osumi (portrait photo)

Gallery and Printing
ArtRage Gallery
Avalon Document Services

Research Guidance
Natasha Black
Jason Reynolds
Byoung Baek

Community Support
The Post Family
Allison Roberts
The Dynan Family
My parents, family, and friends Camp Chin-Gu, Rochester, NY
Kelly Homan Rodoski
Jack Latorre
Elin Riggs 

Dirty Secrets

Creative Expressions