Susan Fleck showcases her photography at UIndy
By Sara Haefner, Staff Writer
The University of Indianapolis art department invited photographer Susan Fleck to showcase a series of photographs collectively entitled “Breaking Ground,” in the Christel DeHaan Fine Arts Center from March 24 to May 9.
Fleck, a former photojournalism teacher at the Pulliam School of Journalism at Franklin College for 15 years, created the collection during her Creative Renewal Arts Fellowship sponsored by the Arts Council of Indianapolis.
Designed to provide an opportunity for artists to invigorate their creative outlooks, Fleck decided that the focus of her fellowship would be farmland and other images associated with rural life.
“I wanted to show folks images of farms and countryside that they may have previously forgotten or ignored,” Fleck said.
The series of 21 photographs took the artist all over the world from early 2006 to last August when the last photograph was taken. Locations included Norway, Washington, Illinois, Iowa and Indiana.
“The series looks at rural and agrarian life in an ethereal, dreamlike way with vivid colors,” Fleck said. “It seems as though you’re looking through a misty veil.”
To create this ethereal effect, Fleck worked on a technique combining two images, one soft or blurry and one sharp. Together, an image is created with some areas out of focus.
Fleck, who primarily photographs architecture in black and white, found herself making a discretionary editorial decision when putting her collection together.
“I started out wanting that sharp contrast look from black and white photography, but I started to put the series together, and it didn’t quite flow as a group. I had to put it in a meaningful context and step back,” Fleck said.
The change to vivid colors is one example of how Fleck was inspired during the process.
“I felt like I could have an instant connection with any farm, because I grew up on a farm. I wanted to show some of the beauty of rural areas,” Fleck said. “In a way, it turned into a documentary, because so much farmland is being eaten up by residential areas, and that way of life is dying.”
Although Fleck may admit that there is no deep, hidden meaning in the photographs and that she never takes photographs with the viewer in mind, Dee Schaad, chair of the UIndy Art and Design Department, believes the collection provides a clear and meaningful message for students.
“You don’t have to go to the Greek islands to take pictures of exhibition quality. Content and subject matter equal beauty,” Schaad said. “A good artist knows oneself. Too many people sit in the middle of Indiana and want to paint mountains or the seashore. Do what you are.”
Community members, faculty and students attended the reception held for Fleck on March 28 with positive feedback.
“The photographs seem very painterly. It’s hard to see photos as fine art but if you can accomplish that effect it elevates the work,” said senior Kristin Wentworth.
Fleck, who received her masters in art from UIndy, largely considers the series a success.
“There’s so much variety. Different types of close-ups, repetition, patterns, strong composition, light and dark—the photos embody these qualities,” Fleck said.
The “Breaking Ground” series can be viewed in the Christel Dehaan art gallery until May 9.
The gallery is open every weekday from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m. Admission is free.
Other collections by Fleck may be viewed on her Web site Susan Fleck Photography at www.fleckphoto.com.
The website includes collections of Fleck’s photography and architecture.
