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Conjure is a body of work by photographer Easton Selby, rooted in the magic, mysticism, and spiritual complexity of the American South. For over forty years, this landscape, both physical and emotional, has shaped how Selby sees himself and those around him. His earliest memories are steeped in the sounds of cicadas, the rituals of Sunday church, and the lush vegetation along the Mississippi River. These experiences continue to inform his work, which serves as a visual and spiritual exploration of the place he calls home.
The term “conjure” refers to creating something from nothing, often through magical means, and to calling upon spirits through ritual. Hoodoo conjure, while not originally Southern, is deeply embedded in the region’s history. Rooted in West African spiritual traditions, Hoodoo blends with Southern Christianity in ways that are both sacred and taboo.
Selby's work incorporates black-and-white imagery, poppets, and jars to represent the tangible and spiritual aspects of conjure.
The landscape photographs provide context, grounding the viewer in the Southern environment where these rituals unfold. Through Conjure, Selby invites viewers to journey with him through memory, ritual, and place as he seeks to understand the layered spiritual terrain of the American South.
About the Speaker: Easton Selby is a photographer and educator based in Conway, SC. His work explores the history and culture of the American South. Currently Selby is an associate dean in the Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts at Coastal Carolina University and is a professor of photography. His work has appeared in publications such as Delta Magazine, Canadian Art Magazine, Metropolis Magazine, and he is the 2008 recipient of the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Award for Photography. www.talboteastonselby.com