Above all, Sandy Dyas values connection to place throughout
her photography. The one statement that
stuck with me the most after I had talked to her is that “you don’t understand
a place until you leave and come back.”
I extrapolated this to apply to her use of color: she first worked in color, taking photo
commissions for weddings and babies and the like, and then she spent the
majority of her time developing a black and white portfolio. Then she came back to color, much more aware
of it than before. I suppose I did the
same with painting, coming back to it after a long period of working with dry
media, and the “aha” moments became more frequent upon revisiting the
medium. Thanks to Sandy, I will now more
than likely continue to see this pattern in my life and work.
My favorite part of Sandy’s lecture is that she
whole-heartedly gave credit to the photographers who inspired her work along
the way. This is something that artists
don’t do enough. So many people contributed
to who Sandy is, and she gave credit to as many big, personal inspirations as
she felt she could over the course of her lecture. She even quoted the book she was currently
reading. If everyone is an artist, it
makes perfect sense that Sandy would also reference the people who are
affecting her now, whether or not they are photographers. Again, this is something that artists don’t
do enough.
Thank you for visiting, Sandy.
I think that the quote you chose to remember her by was very relatable. In my experience, especially since leaving home, going back means that much more. I think this is even more true for Sandy who decided to leave her state and ultimately now lives there.
ReplyDeleteRachel - I am so glad that I was able to visit and spend a whole week at Lawrence U. You have no idea how wonderful it is to have the opportunity to just think about ART. And to be immersed in creating the installation "my eyes are not shut"....to spend intense hours looking at the photographs in the room and then begin to arrange them... incredible to see the WHOLE body of work on the walls in one beautiful space. Yes, leaving a place and going back to it with new eyes is something I was surprised to discover - I never have left the state of Iowa... I have always lived in Iowa - I grew up on a farm in eastern Iowa - tiny tiny rural area - and in my early 30s moved to Iowa City. A whole new adventure and brand new chapter in my life began. And one more comment I really enjoyed is that you liked that I mentioned how other artists have inspired me and continue to do so. So true. How can it be any other way? Art and life inspire art and life. Thanks for your wonderful comments!
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