About the Artist:
Julian Foglietti is and editorial photographer born and raised in Northeast Ohio. A finalist for the 2018 Hasselblad Masters Competition, and a regular contributor to publications throughout central Ohio, Julian’s works are grounded in narrative, utilizing photography to bring characters and worlds to life. His projects revolve around the Midwest, looking at how our surroundings inform our collective identities.
Act 1 Scene 2
Digital Image, 2019
Act 2 Scene 3
Digital Image, 2019
Act 3 Scene 4
Digital Image, 2019
What began with a series of articles covering elements of the Ohio meat and Dairy industry eventually led me to the Fox Hollow Rodeo in Waynesville Ohio, one of the few rodeos in the US operating weekly. It was in this dust-filled arena 30 minutes south of Dayton that I was exposed to the world of bull riding and the lives of those who risked everything week in and week out in the hopes of holding on for the 8 seconds necessary, and if their performance was good enough, a cash prize to go with.
Bull riding is a unique sport that combines the ferocity of a demolition derby with the grace of ballet. It’s a sport that routinely defies expectations. One where the strong often fail and the winners are those who best follow the movement of the Bulls they ride. It is this line constantly being towed between gracefulness and complete chaos that Something Like Ballet works to depict.