Photography

Helen & Wendell

Helen & Wendell: My grand parents were 2nd cousins and grew up on a tiny island in southern Maryland. These photographs represent their lives and a century of American history.

I photographed Helen & Wendell with an antique 4 x 5 camera and used Polaroid negatives because, like our bodies and our memories they aren’t perfect.

Point and Pray

Point & Pray: A few years ago I started using a toy camera. It is plastic, very light, has light leaks and lens flare. The images are dreamy and seem to come directly from my imagination. I call it Point and Pray, because you never know exactly what you’re going to get. I carry my Holgas with me everywhere, and have come to realize these little cameras are bringing me closer to my dream of having a camera surgically installed in my brain.

Revisions

Revisions: Our scars are the proof that we are human and like it or not we always have to adapt and revise ourselves.

I thought photographing scars would be a small project and it would be tough to find subjects. But, I’ve found almost everyone wanted his or her scars photographed and wanted to tell me the story behind their scars. A few friends who didn’t have scars were disappointed they couldn’t be part of this ongoing project.

I photographed Revisions with an antique 4 x 5 camera and used Polaroid negatives because, like our bodies and our memories they aren’t perfect.

Contact Information

Columbus, OH
tel: 215-280-4088
e-mail:
www.susancunninghamphotography.com
Please contact artist for purchases, commissions, etc.

Artist Statement

What I’m looking for as I make my way through life is the ordinary, everyday things we often walk right by without noticing because we’re too busy or too worried about watching where we’re going and getting to where we’re going instead of watching what we’re passing by. Photography helps me to clearly and precisely remember my everyday life, my dreams, or some random day from my childhood.

Education

1991-1992
Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara, CA

1987-1989
Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA

1981-1985
Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey
BS

Professional Experience

1993-present
Freelance Photographer

1997-1999
Photographer’s assistant, Randl Bye

1990, 1993, 2002
Photographer Instructor, Ronald McDonald Cancer Camp

2004, 2005
Arts and Crafts Classes, People’s Emergency Shelter

Bibliography

2006
The Photo Review 2006 Competition

2005
Shots 87: Self Portraits, Spring 2005

Princeton Packet, Camera Play, August 2005

Honors and Awards

2004-2006
Fellowship, Center for Emerging Visual Artists

Selected Exhibitions

Solo

2002
University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Two-Person

2006
Persistence, Bebe Benoliel Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; Gallery 31 North, Glen Gardner, NJ
with Berendina Buist

2005
Un-Related, Peggy Lewis Gallery, NJ

Group

2005
Collaboration II, Chashama, New York, NY

Fire and Ice, Philadelphia, PA

Northern Exposure, Tower Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Precious Things, Morgan Lewis and Bockius, Philadelphia, PA

Something New, The Center For Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA

Works from CFEVA, Moore College of Art and Design, Philadelphia, PA

2004
Winter Group Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA

Collaboration I, Chashama, New York, NY

Fall Group Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA

1997
The Leleu Gallery, Doylestown, PA
Juried Exhibition

1996
Borders Books, Philadelphia, PA
Juried Exhibition

1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
Phillips Mill, New Hope, PA