Chabot Spectator

Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: In Focus

Media Credit: Graham, Paige Laurina Alejandro poses with her photos.

Laurina Alejandro is not a tabloid photographer hunting down celebrities in their backyards as they sunbathe nude. But her final figure study at Cal State East Bay, which was set to show last November, has garnered her with much press attention and controversy.

The series of photos was created by Alejandro to show women in a non-sexual light and to reaffirm the purity and innocence of the female figure. Because it was a figure study there were photos taken of breasts and butts though done in a very gentle yet direct manner to confront the idea of these parts being taboo because of their "sexual connotation."

During the process of shooting this series Alejandro used the knowledge she gained from a class titled "Careers in Photography" which is a required course to obtain a bachelor's degree in photography. This course teaches students how to conduct themselves in the professional aspect of photography, which includes how to put together a model release.

The subject of controversy is a photograph of a woman from the side who is sitting with her knees to her chin, arms wrapped around her knees, and a soft focus on the lower third of her face. There is no breast or butt showing in the photo but the model still had an objection. The model claims that people would recognize her solely based on her lips, which are visible in the image.

The photographer sent this image to the model after the shoot as a consideration to the model, which legally does not need to be done. So the model knew what was being shown in the series and the model approved it for Alejandro to use.

Where the controversy truly lies is that this model signed a model release, a legally binding contract, that entitles the photographer to use and possibly sell any image created during that specific shoot. This is what makes the image so controversial; the model signed the contract then disputed the image being shown and the university ignored the contract and sided with the model.

Kim Huggett, the director of public relations at CSUEB commented on the situation, "There had been a discussion with the photographer. She could have her exhibit in the university art gallery but it could not contain that specific photo, but Alejandro refused."

Technically, this is going against the university standard curriculum of the class "Careers in Photography" which reinforces the legality of contracts and teaches artists how to use them. The administration at Cal State East Bay went against the curriculum that they have set.

In an interview with Laurina Alejandro after her gallery show at Paddy's Coffee in Union City, Feb. 10, where the image was shown along with 11 others, Alejandro said "I put together a model release that all of my professors knew about and I had her sign it. This document is supposed to protect me and my rights as an artist and when it mattered most, it didn't matter at all. My problem with the university is, why are they teaching me and telling me now what I did is invalid?"

This specific incident, though now over, is still being discussed among many and especially pondered by artists. Where does the law end and rights begin?

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