On Feb. 12 and Feb. 19, the Vicki Myhren Gallery will host its two remaining Artist Talks, in which artists, who also happen to be DU faculty members, will expand on the meaning and provide special insight on their artwork. On Feb. 5, photography professor Edie Winograde explained the thought processes behind her photography series “Place and Time” which is currently being featured in the Faculty Triennial Art exhibit at the Vicki Myhren Gallery.
Winograde grew up in California and has fond memories of traveling the west and photographing the landscape around her. While her projects are ongoing and years in the making, her childhood stands as the foundation of her work.
Winograde travels across the country documenting reenactments of historical events that played a role in civilization’s western expansion. A reenactment, or pageant, is an event where a group of individuals go to a landmark place and act out the historical event that took place there. Anywhere from Texas to Wyoming toMontana, Winograde is most interested in finding reenactments that actually take place on the real historical site of the event.
“The reenactment pageants represent a unique window into the American psyche, combining historical facts, myths, and legends with theatrical devices to convey meaning to local audiences. They are often ritualistic and cathartic in nature, and have special and profound significance to the communities that create them,” said Winograde, regarding “Place and Time.”
Shot in film and then scanned and printed digitally, her photographs are often zoomed in to not only show the details but also display the “flaws,” as Winograde calls them. Within each photograph, there are either cars, crowds or random objects like fencing that reveal the events are just staged for an audience. She chooses not to photoshop out these flaws because they embrace the reality of the situation and make for a more authentic recording.
In addition, these flaws point out that she herself is also a member of the audience catching the moments as they happen around her.
“They aren’t doing this for me,” said Winograde. “I am a spectator, watching events unfold and allowing chance to play a large role in my photographic process.” Her humble approach creates a raw account that accepts the situation as it is.
Winograde’s background isn’t the only influence behind her photographs. She strongly believes that artists’ ideas are a continuing process, with friends and environment acting as catalysts for creativity. “This idea didn’t pop fully into my head,” said Winograde. “I personally feel that ideas don’t just pop into an artist’s head.”
She was first introduced to reenactments from a friend and, after photographing one, Winograde started to see layers of meaning unfold within her work. History and society’s moral compass, or sometimes lack thereof, are intertwined and exposed through Winograde’s documentation of reenactments, which may be better defined in her words as “Morality Plays.”
Deborah Howard is speaking at 5 p.m. on Feb. 12 and Sarah Gjertson and Jeffrey Keith are speaking at 5 p.m. and 5:45 p.m., respectively, on Feb. 19 at the Victoria Myhren Gallery. Each talk runs for about 45 minutes and gives great insight to the meaning and inspiration behind these artists’ work.
For more information, stay tuned for my upcoming art column which will profile each of the artists.
