http://www.spraygraphic.com/ManageProfile/857.html Andrew Benson graduated from Arizona State University in 2006 where he studied Art History and Religion. While working as staff photographer at the Arizona State Press Magazine, Arizona State's student publication, he fell in love with journalism and its impact. One of his cover photos caused national news after a backer of the university took offense to his black and white profile of a pierced breast, done for an article on piercing. This led to the university president threatening to shut down the publication. Standing by the decision to run the photo, the publication secured an ethics award for journalism and made a solid claim against censorship at state universities. Since 2004 he has worked in Film/Video Production as a Producer and Coordinator with clients such as the United Way, Discovery, CBS, and the BBC. In addition to Producing and Coordinating, Benson has done numerous public art projects, including public theatre; created the Urban Art Vehicle (UAV), a mobile canvas for propaganda and artists work, featured in Adbusters; founded and directed Produce, an art space in Phoenix; as well, he has been curator of art shows in Phoenix. Working as a freelancer has allowed Benson to travel extensively through the US, Europe, the Middle East and South America where experiences have helped shape his global conscious. Benson's work as an artist is constantly evolving but the mission remains constant: create didactic work which fuels dialogue and growth, both for himself and others. His mentality is in part inspired by Gordon Parks who talked about using his camera as a weapon in pointing his lens at the atrocities of his time-the 1950's-60's-and letting the images pierce the minds of viewers resulting in empathy and change. Andrew Benson lives in Phoenix, AZ and is 24. http://www.spraygraphic.com/ViewProject/290/normal.html andrew james benson Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:15:07 CDT http://www.spraygraphic.com/ViewProject/291/normal.html andrew james benson Wed, 19 Mar 2008 15:37:49 CDT http://www.spraygraphic.com/ViewProject/295/normal.html andrew james benson Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:41:00 CDT http://www.spraygraphic.com/ViewProject/296/normal.html andrew james benson Thu, 20 Mar 2008 01:57:32 CDT http://www.spraygraphic.com/ViewProject/297/normal.html andrew james benson Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:08:05 CDT http://www.spraygraphic.com/ViewProject/298/normal.html andrew james benson Thu, 20 Mar 2008 02:23:21 CDT