Senior Thesis Exhibition

Isyss Brown 

The Final Stretch 

 

“Oh, I could never do long distance and be that far away from my significant other, you’re kind of crazy and brave for doing so.”  

 

The final stretch explores themes of love, commitment, and distance in a military relationship. Collaborating with my boyfriend, we created photographs together and apart to reflect our individuality, relationship, and idealized future. The quote above and its variations echo what I hear daily. Being a military girlfriend is complicated, and some think it isn’t worthwhile or that I won’t be loved as I deserve. I feel the opposite.  

My boyfriend, Braden Byrnes, is serving in the United States Air Force and is deployed to South Korea. We may not always be there physically for each other, but we always show up in our own ways. From FaceTime calls to love letters and occasional visits, we cherish the little things that keep us going while we await bigger moments.My heart is hardwired to the seasons because I know when the summertime rolls back around, I get to bask in the sun with him. I feel more alive with the sun rejuvenatingme, and because I get to relax back into his arms and find peace like we are back on the beach. This summer, our long-distance relationship will end, and we will reunite. I want to honor these times of hard work and commitment.  

We may live separate lives, but they interlock, and these photographs show what it means to love from afar, close-up, and in between. This project aims to pay tribute to the military culture, focusing on relationships and family.