Wendi Schneider

Wendi Schneider (born 1955) is an American artist and photographer based in Denver, Colorado, known for her photographs of nature and wildlife that are often printed on paper vellum or kozo with hand-applied layers of gold leaf on verso.[1] Gilded vellum and kozo photographs from her ongoing "States of Grace" series have been exhibited in more than 100 gallery and museum exhibitions nationally and abroad.[1] Paula Tognarelli, executive director of the Griffin Museum of Photography, has stated: "There is an elegance that emanates from Wendi Schneider's photographs. It can be seen in the turn of a flamingo's neck, in hanging fog or the flick of a betta fish tail. Schneider's photographic gestures are not rare sightings but daily gifts from the natural world for those with the patience to see them."[2]

Wendi Schneider
Born1955 (age 67–68)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
EducationAssociates of Arts, Stephens College; BA, Newcomb College
Known forPhotography
Notable workStates of Grace, Evenings with the Moon

Life and early career

Born in Memphis, TN in 1955, Schneider attended Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri where she studied Art History, before moving on to Newcomb College in 1975 to study Studio Art. Painting was her chosen medium at this time, and her first use of a camera was to make reference photographs of painting subjects.[3] When she shifted her artistic focus to photography, she sought to integrate her painting background by layering paints and glazes on her photographic prints to "create a more personal impression."[4] After college, she remained in New Orleans and worked for The Times-Picayune, where she photographed, designed, and produced the award-winning 1987 edition of The Picayune's Creole Cook Book.[5] The following year, Schneider moved to New York City, where she photographed for Victoria Magazine while continuing her fine art photography work[6] During this time, her work often appeared on book covers for authors such as Louisa May Alcott,[7] Anne Rice,[8] Tami Hoag,[9] Iris Johansen,[10] Jodi Thomas[11] and more. In 1991, she exhibited a collection of hand-painted photographs titled Mille Fleur at A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans,[3] which continues to represent her work.[8] In 1994, she left New York for Denver, where she still lives today, and later put her fine art practice on hold while she raised her son and worked in commissioned photography, art direction, and design.[4]

Fine art photography
Installation view of States of Grace, Griffin Museum of Photography, 2018
Installation view of States of Grace Griffin Museum of Photography, 2018

In 2010, Schneider was inspired to return her fine art roots; a return visit to A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans cemented the desire to revive her fine art photography practice.[12] Soon after, she began work on her ongoing States of Grace series, and its three attendant sub-series – Flora, Fauna, and Figura – which illustrate Schneider's "affinity for wildlife and the natural world".[8] Schneider is known for the gilding effect she uses in this series, wherein "images are captured, layered and printed digitally with archival pigment ink on paper vellum or kozo, and white gold, 24k gold or silver leaf is then hand-applied to the back of the print, creating a silken sheen on the print's surface."[13] States of Grace has traveled worldwide.[2]

Installation view of Evenings with the Moon, Southeast Center for Photography, 2019
Memento Mori from the Patina Collection of gilded prints and antique frames, 2015 pigment ink on vellum over white gold leaf

Schneider's most recent series, Evenings with the Moon "engages the moon as muse."[6] Images in this series are printed on paper vellum or Japanese kozo paper and gilded with gold leaf. As of January 2020 Evenings with the Moon has been shown at the Southeast Center for Photography in Greenville, SC;[14] and The Gallery at Mr. Pool in Boulder, CO.[15]

Schneider has been selected as a Finalist for Photolucida's international juried exhibition Critical Mass in 2017,[2] 2018,[16] and 2020. She has taught workshops at the Southeast Center for Photography[17] and A Smith Gallery.[18]

Selections from Wendi Schneider's States of Grace Collection
  • Photograph of a flamingo with its face turned away
    "Flamingo"
  • Dying leaves on an old tree in fall with moon far in the background
    "Moonglow"
  • skinny tree with long branches and pink flowers blooming against a bright sky
    "Refuge"
  • somber, dream-like photograph of a tree
    "Locust"
  • photograph of heron taking flight with reflection in pool of water beneath
    "Egret, Reflected"

Awards

References
  1. Gwinn, Allison (November 26, 2018). "Spotlight: Wendi Schneider". Denver Life Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  2. "Show: States of Grace". Griffin Museum of Photography. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  3. "Wendi Schneider". Rfotofolio. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  4. Kirchoff, Michael. "Wendi Schneider". Catalyst Interviews. Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  5. Couturier, Catherine. "New Artist: Wendi Schneider". Retrieved January 20, 2020.
  6. Smithson, Aline. "Wendi Schneider: Evenings with the Moon". Lenscratch. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  7. Alcott, Louisa May (February 14, 1997). Behind the Mask: The Unknown Thrillers of Louisa May Alcott. Perennial. ISBN 0-688-15132-9.
  8. Versair, Lannie. "A Conversation with Wendi Schneider". Shuttertalk. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  9. Hoag, Tami (February 19, 2009). Sarah's Sin. Penguin Random House. ISBN 978-0-553-56050-3.
  10. Johansen, Iris (November 4, 2009). Last Bridge Home. Bantam Books. ISBN 978-0-553-29871-0.
  11. Thomas, Jodi (2005). The Texan's Reward. Berkley Books. ISBN 978-0-425-20584-6.
  12. Cloutier, Crista. "Meet Working Artist Wendi Schneider". The Working Artist. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  13. Carta, Davida. "Wendi Schneider". Underexposed Magazine. Retrieved January 28, 2020.
  14. "Wendi Schneider at Southeast Center for Photography". F Stop Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  15. Froyd, Susan (March 8, 2019). "Twenty Must See Month of Photography Shows". Westword. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  16. "Critical Mass 2018 Finalists Announced". Critical Mass. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  17. "Workshops". Southeast Center for Photography. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  18. "Workshop: Leafing on Vellum and other Substrates with Wendi Schneider". Analog Forever. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  19. "Honorable Mention: Wendi Schneider". ND Awards. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  20. Anderson, Tim. "Urban & Rural Landscape". The Gala Awards.
  21. "American Photography 34 Winners: Wendi Schneider". AI-AP. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  22. "Bronze / 2018 / Nature/Wildlife: States of Grace". Moscow Foto Awards. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  23. "Bronze / 2018 / Fine Art – Landscape: States of Grace". PX3. Prix de la Photographie. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  24. "2019 San Francisco Bay International Photography Exhibition Gold Award Winners". Bokeh Bokeh. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  25. "PX3 2020 Winner - States of Grace - the Wisdom of Trees". Px3. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
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