Arden McMillin

LSU Discover Scholar

Arden McMillin, BFA 2019, is studying photography and digital art with a concentration in animation. She is an LSU Discover undergraduate research grant recipient for the spring 2019 semester, for her photography project “Home and History: an investigation into the complexity of small southern towns that never left the Civil War.”

Arden came to LSU with an interest in fine art and a background in community theater. “I knew I wanted to explore visual arts and storytelling,” she said. “I decided to major in the animation track with sights set on a Pixar-esque path, but I quickly found myself gravitating towards cinematography and the photographic narrative.”

“I came to LSU with the intention of pursuing animation as a way to combine my love for acting and film,” she explained. “When introduced to basic photography as one of my studio requirements, I instantly clicked with it and became obsessed with the storytelling I was able to do in a whole new way.”

Arden is from Natchez, Mississippi, a historic town known for the Spring Pilgrimage tableaux, and massive plantation homes. Her photography research project intends to explore her hometown’s complicated history.

“As a visual artist and photographer, my research will begin with an investigation into the complexity of small southern towns that never left the Civil War and lead to a field documentation over several weeks of the town I grew up in that still struggles to let go of a problematic past,” she said. “I am exploring the idea that the antebellum townscape appears changeless—without history.”

“I am interested in the version of history the collective town portrays to those visiting as well as to those who have spent their whole lives there. As the nation becomes more sensitive to the racial issues that have long been glazed over, I wonder if Natchez can go on serving sandwiches at ‘Mammy’s Cupboard’ and crowning a queen of the Pilgrimage in full antebellum style with no mention of slavery in sight,” Arden stated in the project overview.

“I’m so pleased that Arden is receiving recognition for this innovative project,” said Kristine Thompson, associate professor of photography and the faculty adviser for the project.

While studying fine art at school, Arden took a job as a graphic designer at local start-up Woolly Threads. In the two years she has been with the company, she has graduated from junior creative to media curator and brand partnership manager. “My role includes day-to-day social media responsibilities, copywriting, website management and updates, email marketing, and in-house photo and video production,” she said. “I’ve learned as a team member working at a start-up company that everyone plays various roles and it’s as thrilling as it is challenging. It’s been a wild, very rewarding ride.”

“My personal style is a mixture of classical art, renaissance romanticism, and contemporary minimalism. I have a passion for old-school cinema and behind-the-scenes production. My favorite projects are those that take a team to tackle–using minimal resources and relying on creativity and collaboration to take center stage.”

Her fine art photography so far has dealt with issues surrounding feminism, false realities, and the ways we perform our personas to the world around us. After graduation she hopes to create a career out of photography in the branding and editorial industries.

See Arden’s work on her website ardenhale.com.