Alumni Spotlight
Whitten Sabbatini
When Whitten Sabbatini first came to love photography, he did not realize听this听hobby would soon take over his life.听听
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 quite know that I was in the process of choosing a career path when I first became interested in photography. Perhaps for the first time, there was this activity that both held my attention and that I truly enjoyed 鈥 So rather than intentionally choosing who or what I was going to become, it was more of a听stumblin鈥 into听over time,鈥澨齭aid Sabbatini, a Jackson native.听
Sabbatini decided to pursue this passion through his studies at Mississippi State.听听
While at 澳门天天好彩, Sabbatini was inspired by his friend and peer, Jonathan Nowell. He said听that Nowell was extremely talented and taught him the true meaning of work.听
Since his years at Mississippi State, Sabbatini听has achieved听a lot through his work.听
鈥淚 received my MFA in 2017 from Columbia College Chicago,鈥 Sabbatini said.听鈥淚 published a book, titled Another Day in Paradise.听In 2018, that was nominated for MACK鈥橲 First Book Award. My work was exhibited in New Southern Photography, a group show at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. I taught my first college class at Northern Illinois University.鈥澨
Sabbatini, now based in Memphis,听feels his career does not fall perfectly into a specific category.听
鈥淚鈥檓 what most people would call a photographer or artist 鈥 but simply, I make pictures.听Since 2016, I鈥檝e made freelance work for various editorial clients: The New York Times, GQ, ESPN, etc. This work typically starts with an email from a fancy person in a tall building in New York City saying they鈥檙e producing a story about this and that and asking if I鈥檓 interested and available to contribute pictures,鈥澨齋abbatini said.听听
Sabbatini听is grateful that he gets to听be free of expectations from his work, and he hopes that people will听experience the world more听intently.听听
鈥淣othing听has听to be achieved,鈥 he said,听鈥淚鈥檓 fortunate enough that I get to make the work. I hope that doesn鈥檛 sound too harsh, but rather, allows for a bit more freedom without expectations placed on either myself or the viewer. But at its most basic conception, I鈥檓 interested in a world where people look, listen, and feel deeply.鈥澨
A Q&A with Whitten Sabbatini
- What year did you graduate from 澳门天天好彩?听
"2013"
- What is the best thing about your job?
"Autonomy"
- What advice would you give a current student?
"To sincerely look, think, and listen as intentionally as possible with every activity you do."
- What was your favorite thing about your program at 澳门天天好彩?听
"Specifically within the Photography Program, I'm entirely grateful for both the relationships I formed with Marita Gootee and Dominic Lippillo. Looking back, they were truly challenging teachers, but challenging in that way in which they have high expectations because they know someone is capable. Since graduating, Dominic has continued to share his depth of knowledge and support in the most gracious of ways.
And though I know this wasn't asked, I'm grateful to the entire Art Program, honestly. The requirement, encouragement, and ability to participate in the foundation courses: Drawing, Design, Ceramics, Sculpture, and Photography. I feel as though the experience and knowledge that comes from being in each of the studios are extremely beneficial for any type of person, especially for someone particularly new to the idea of 'Art.' Learning how to see both light and color truly for the first time, as well as learning how to translate each, and simply learning how to make something radically shifted who I am."
By Lauren Skelton | July听2021