Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacqui Merhaut.
Jacqui, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
During a home purge a few years back this unidentifiable bag showed up. Once open I recognized the Nikon within it, specifically her camera strap. We have pictures of her during our younger years, slung around my mother’s neck and front and center at every family event.
The bag then gave me more. I pulled from it a gem. I fumbled with it for days. Stared at her, tried to figure out her inner workings and beckoned my mother for its history and why it had been given to me.
“It’s your Grandfather’s. One of his favorites.”
She is a Zeiss Ikon Super Ikonta 532/16, which he purchased in the 1940’s. The family struggles to recall exactly when, hence the generalization of timeframe.
She was magical. Pristine. Mine.
A friend (later to become my photography companion) helped me understand all of her and all of photography too. I express the latter with caution. I’m diligent about staying away from what everyone else does. I respect those before me with their trained eye, natural talent and earned and even innate abilities. What I want for myself is far from theirs. I am different. I express differently, I feel differently and I connect to deeper layers beyond just our physical. I pursue no copycatting and no recreating of the standards defined within the industry. I stand independent amongst others.
That last part is tough. Photographers live within saturation. Photography is exponentially more present than ever. No travel required. This alone challenges my visibility. I can ride with or against but the fact is, with the technical advances we have been given, photographers are born earlier than ever. So saturated? Yes. Awful? Only if I choose to see it in that way. Photographs capture magic. Magic in moments, places, spaces, acts between humans and all the like. What magic would have been missed without this technology and these early born photographers?
Today I shoot predominately with my Grandfathers camera.
In May I visited his grave for the first time since his passing 39 years ago. At the base of his headstone I buried the negatives of the first images I ever captured with his camera; my way of saying thank you for the influence and thank you for the support. He passed when I was 7 months old so our physical connection never lived long but our souls – they are united. He’s always with me, supporting my movements and where my art is headed.
I fancy film over digital. I’m either shooting 120 medium format with the Zeiss or, as of late, running some 35mm through the Nikon. All black and white and all darkroom developed by me. My work captures the cinematic events of the places and spaces around us. The black and white is intentional. I invite the viewer to be the narrator, to draw your own conclusions, create your own titles and live within the images I’ve captured – make it all your own.
Five years ago I launched my company, Rocket Punch Creative. The focus is Photography and Logo Design; although other design based projects arise here and there too. Everything runs through my company but I still give my photography a face of its own. I give it the independence it requires in order to thrive.
Prior work includes outfitting a restaurant with 43 pieces within their farm to table theme, numerous gallery openings, commission projects, featured artist opportunities and many shots taken just in the spirit of being embraced by my own art. The recent body of work in motion includes my meditation connecting to and creating conversations with my subject, all captured on film.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been relatively smooth. I have been an artist since my early years but in different mediums. First music, than graphic design and now photography. Life can get in the way at times. I am a mother of a 12 year old, own a home, have a 9-5 gig and the gamut of family, friends and interests to keep connected to so if there is a struggle, the struggle is time. As of late, I have removed drinking from my list of extracurricular activities which has opened up yet another layer of connectedness and understanding.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Rocket Punch Creative/Jacqui Merhaut Photography – what should we know?
Rocket Punch Creative was born nearly 5 years ago. The main driver was Graphic Design. I had dabbled in college courses for 12 years, all under the guise of graphic arts and creativity and forever ago knew that it would one day come back into focus in my life. The specialty was Logo Design and about 2 years ago photography was added into the mix. I’m proud of the small status of my company. I am a company of one which makes me highly fluid and incredibly mobile. The most proud project to date is for a company that opened a town over from me. To drive by and see your creativity in bright lights is just an energetic experience.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
Doug Hanson of Doug Hanson Art. We intersected in a town close to my home. We both frequented a new local art gallery that emerged onto the scene. With living outside of Chicago’s city limits, some of the creative resources and creative abundance of the city can be hard to find. It would be a couple years before we actually worked together but the moment I found the Zeiss I knew I had to talk to him, I knew he would be influential. Since, we’ve done art challenges together, created together, laughed and cried together so a real love of each person and our independent work has developed. Doug has taken his time to teach me the basics, remind me of the things I didn’t capture the first time and just genuinely be support of my art pursuits.
I have a number of family members and friends who show their support by appearing at gallery openings and purchasing pieces of my work. Their support is constantly felt.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.rocketpunchcreative.com
- Email: jacqui@rocketpunchcreative.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rocketpunchcreative/
Image Credit:
Doug Birkenheuer of Birkenheuer Photography
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