Wendy Ewald
Encyclopedia
Wendy Ewald is an American
photographer and educator. Her work is directed toward "helping children to see" and using the "camera as a tool for expression". In recent years Ewald has produced a number of conceptual installations—for example, in Margate, England and in Amherst, Massachusetts
-- making use of large scale photographic banners.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan
and attended Antioch College
between 1969–74, as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
, where she studied photography with Minor White
. She embarked on a career teaching photography to children and young people internationally. In 1969 & 1970, she taught photography to Naskapi
and Mi'kmaq Native-American children in Canada. Between 1976–80 she taught photography and film-making to students in Whitesburg, Kentucky
, in association with Appalshop, a media co-op. In 1982, she traveled to Ráquira
, Colombia
on a Fulbright fellowship working with children and community groups; spending a further two years in Gujarat, India
.
She was one of the founders of the Half Moon Photography Workshop in the East End of London
; and in 1989 she created the "Literacy through Photography" programmes in Houston, Texas
, and Durham
, North Carolina
. In 1992, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
She is currently senior research associate at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University
, artist in residence at the Duke University Center for International Studies
and creative director of the Literacy through Photography program. Ewald is married to Tom McDonough, a writer and cinematographer. They live in the Hudson Valley
of New York with their son, Michael.
Her photographs have also appeared in DoubleTake, Psychology Today, Aperture, Art in America, Harper's, Creative Camera, Camerawork, and Time-Life
magazines.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
photographer and educator. Her work is directed toward "helping children to see" and using the "camera as a tool for expression". In recent years Ewald has produced a number of conceptual installations—for example, in Margate, England and in Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
-- making use of large scale photographic banners.
She was born in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and attended Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
between 1969–74, as well as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
, where she studied photography with Minor White
Minor White
Minor Martin White was an American photographer born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.White earned a degree in botany with a minor in English from the University of Minnesota in 1933. His first creative efforts were in poetry, as he took five years thereafter to complete a sequence of 100 sonnets while...
. She embarked on a career teaching photography to children and young people internationally. In 1969 & 1970, she taught photography to Naskapi
Naskapi
The Naskapi are the indigenous Innu inhabitants of an area they refer to as Nitassinan, which comprises most of what other Canadians refer to as eastern Quebec and Labrador, Canada....
and Mi'kmaq Native-American children in Canada. Between 1976–80 she taught photography and film-making to students in Whitesburg, Kentucky
Whitesburg, Kentucky
Whitesburg is a city in Letcher County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,139 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Letcher County.-Culture:...
, in association with Appalshop, a media co-op. In 1982, she traveled to Ráquira
Ráquira
Ráquira, literally "City of Pots" in the Chibcha language, is a municipality and town in Boyacá Department, Colombia, part of the subregion of the Ricaurte Province. It is famous in Colombia for its colony of artisans, who produce traditional northern Andean pottery & hand-woven goods. The Sunday...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
on a Fulbright fellowship working with children and community groups; spending a further two years in Gujarat, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
She was one of the founders of the Half Moon Photography Workshop in the East End of London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
; and in 1989 she created the "Literacy through Photography" programmes in Houston, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, and Durham
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. In 1992, she was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship.
She is currently senior research associate at the Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, artist in residence at the Duke University Center for International Studies
Duke University Center for International Studies
250px|rightThe Duke University Center for International Studies is an international studies national resource center housed within the John Hope Franklin Center for Interdisciplinary and International Studies on Duke University's west campus....
and creative director of the Literacy through Photography program. Ewald is married to Tom McDonough, a writer and cinematographer. They live in the Hudson Valley
Hudson Valley
The Hudson Valley comprises the valley of the Hudson River and its adjacent communities in New York State, United States, from northern Westchester County northward to the cities of Albany and Troy.-History:...
of New York with their son, Michael.
Works
- Appalachia: A Self-Portrait (Edited) Foreword by Robert Coles, Text by Loyal Jones, (Frankfort, KY: Gnomon Press for Appalshop, 1979)
- Appalachian Women: Three Generations (Whitesburg, KY: Appalshop, 1981)
- Retrato de un Pueblo (Bogotá, Colombia: Museo de Arte Moderno, 1983).
- Portraits and Dreams: Photographs and Stories by Children of the Appalachians, with an introduction by Robert Coles, afterword by Ben Lifson, (New York: Writers and Readers Publications, Inc., 1985)
- Magic Eyes: Scenes from an Andean Girlhood from stories told by Alicia Ewald and María Vásquez, photographs by Wendy Ewald and children of Ráquira (Seattle, WA: Bay Press, 1992)
- I Dreamed I Had a Girl in My Pocket: The Story of an Indian Village with stories and photographs by the children of Vichya, India (New York: Doubletake Books and W.W.Norton,1996)
- Secret Games: Collaborative Works with Children 1969-1999 (Zurich; NewYork: Scalo, 2000)
Her photographs have also appeared in DoubleTake, Psychology Today, Aperture, Art in America, Harper's, Creative Camera, Camerawork, and Time-Life
Time-Life
Time–Life is a creator and direct marketer of books, music, video/DVD, and multimedia products. Its products are sold throughout North America, Europe, Australia, and Asia through television, print, retail, the Internet, telemarketing, and direct sales....
magazines.
External links
- Center for Documentary Studies at Duke University
- Literacy Through Photography at Duke University
- Literacy Through Photography
- Wendy Ewald Literacy Through Photography blogBlogA blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
- List of exhibitions (Photography Now)