LAURIE PEEK – www.lauriepeek.com
Artist Interview by Juan Madrid
This is an open series of interviews with the artists in the Photography Now 2017 exhibition.
“Seen by itself, I doubt anyone would know what it was of. We don’t usually associate car dents and damage with beautiful abstractions. My work is often mistaken for painting, though my photographs are minimally enhanced.“
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1. Where are you from, and what is your background in photography? How did you get into photography?
I’m from Sarasota, FL. I grew up playing and exploring outside year round. I got into photography via the influence of a boyfriend’s photographer friends at Rhode Island School of Design. Inspired by their work, I then spent a semester studying with Doug Prince at University of Florida, took more photography courses and worked as a darkroom printer for a portrait studio and a commercial photographer. I then attended a residency program at Apeiron in Millerton, NY, which led to my getting an MFA in photography at the Visual Studies Workshop, headed by Nathan Lyons. After teaching for two years in Washington, DC, I moved to New York City in the late 70s where I became a photojournalist. In those days I only shot b&w.
2. What inspired you to make the work in Photography Now 2017? What is the work about? Please describe one piece, the evolution of the concept, and the process?
My Car Parts series is ongoing and began when I took two photographs of cars that I really liked because of the bright colors, interesting reflections and abstract shapes. I then paid special attention to the visual possibilities car surfaces offered. The work is about closely observing our world and how much we miss as we go about our daily lives. It’s also about reclaiming unattractive spaces like parking lots. The “Blue-green Dent” photo was taken in a community college parking lot in late afternoon. I didn’t realize how powerful it was until I saw it on my monitor. I love how enigmatic it is. Seen by itself, I doubt anyone would know what it was of. We don’t usually associate car dents and damage with beautiful abstractions. My work is often mistaken for painting, though my photographs are minimally enhanced.
3. Much of the work in Photography Now 2017 seems to describe a distance between the subject and the viewer, a disconnection, and/or a dystopian situation. How do you think your work relates to these ideas?
Actually, I’m fond of my subject and feel connected to it, so I guess I may be an exception to the rule. Perhaps a car accident is a mini-dystopian event.
4. What are you working on now?
More “Car Parts”! And a series “Out Back.”
5. What is the one photograph you always wanted to make but never could?
A truly flattering selfie.
General exhibition information:
Photography Now 2017
November 4, 2017 – January 14, 2018
Juried by William Ewing
Featured Artists: Lars Anderson, Sarah Anthony, Ben Arnon, Sandra Bacchi, John Barnard, Emily Berl, Adam Bernard, Christopher Paul Brown, Tianqiutao Chen, Jennifer Garza-Cuen, Orestes Gonzalez, Tamar Granovsky, Alejandro Loureiro Lorenzo, Jeanette May, Zora Murff, Laurie Peek, Ceaphas Stubbs and Ayumi Tanaka.
See full exhibition information or exhibition guide (issuu.com).
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