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 with hand-applied layers of gold leaf on verso.[1] Gilded vellum 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
Schneider in her Studio, January 2020.
Born1955 (age 65–66)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
EducationAssociates of Arts, Stephens College; BA, Newcomb College
Known forPhotography
Notable work
States 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 onto Newcomb College in 1975 to study Studio Art. Painting was her chosen medium at this time, and her first use of a camera was merely to make reference photographs of painting subjects.[3] When she later 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, on a return visit to A Gallery for Fine Photography in New Orleans, Schneider was inspired 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 [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, including to the Griffin Museum of Photography in Winchester, Massachusetts;[2] Catherine Couturier Gallery in Houston, Texas;[14] Galeria Photographic in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; and A Smith Gallery in Johnson City, Texas.[15] One of the images from this series, Locust, won First place in the category of Urban & Rural Landscape at the Photography Gala Awards.[16]

Installation view of Evenings with the Moon, Southeast Center for Photography, 2019
Installation view of Evenings with the Moon, Gallery at Mr. Pool, 2019

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;[17] and The Gallery at Mr. Pool in Boulder, CO.[18]

Schneider has been selected as a Finalist for Photolucida's international Juried exhibition Critical Mass in 2017[2] and 2018.[19] She often serves as the Juror for juried exhibitions of fine art photography, such as Trees at the Photoplace Gallery in 2020,[20] Botanical at A Smith Gallery in 2019,[21] Metamorphosis at Darkroom Gallery in 2018,[22] and several others.[23][24] She has taught workshops at the Southeast Center for Photography[25] and A Smith Gallery.[26]

Selected awards
  • 2019 – San Francisco Bay Month of Photography | Gold[27]
  • 2018 – Prix de la Photographie, Paris | Bronze – Fine Art, Landscape[28]
  • 2018 – Moscow International Photo Awards | Bronze – Nature[29]
  • 2018 – American Photography 34[30]
  • 2018 – National Association of Women Artists | Silver – Small Works, Works on Paper
  • 2017 – Gala Awards | First place – Urban & Rural Landscape[16]
  • 2017 – Animalia | Director's Selection, The Center for Fine Art Photography
  • 2017 – Florida Museum of Photographic Arts | International Exhibit | Third place – Nature, Science, and Animals
  • 2017 – Neutral Density Photography Awards | Honorable Mention[31]
  • 2016 – 9th Annual Julia Margaret Cameron Awards | Single Image, Nude/Figure
  • 2016 – San Diego Natural History Museum Best of Nature | First place
  • 2016 – International Color Awards | 2nd Place, Merit of Excellence Wildlife
  • 2014 – Black & White Magazine | Best Single Image, Animals

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: States of Grace". Catherine Couterier Gallery. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  15. "States of Grace / Images by Wendi Schneider". A Smith Gallery. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  16. Anderson, Tim. "Urban & Rural Landscape". The Gala Awards.
  17. "Wendi Schneider at Southeast Center for Photography". F Stop Magazine. Retrieved January 29, 2020.
  18. Froyd, Susan (March 8, 2019). "Twenty Must See Month of Photography Shows". Westword. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
  19. "Critical Mass 2018 Finalists Announced". Critical Mass. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  20. "Online Juried Shows: Trees". Photoplace Gallery.
  21. "Botanical". A Smith Gallery. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  22. "Metamorphosis". Darkroom Gallery. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  23. "Small Works-Robert Anderson Gallery/Month of Photography Juried Show & Competition". Robert Anderson Gallery. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  24. "L.A. Photo Curator Call for Entry: Serenity with curator Wendi Schneider". L.A. Photo Curator. Retrieved February 6, 2020.
  25. "Workshops". Southeast Center for Photography. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
  26. "Workshop: Leafing on Vellum and other Substrates with Wendi Schneider". Analog Forever. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  27. "2019 San Francisco Bay International Photography Exhibition Gold Award Winners". Bokeh Bokeh. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  28. "Bronze / 2018 / Fine Art – Landscape: States of Grace". PX3. Prix de la Photographie. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  29. "Bronze / 2018 / Nature/Wildlife: States of Grace". Moscow Foto Awards. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  30. "American Photography 34 Winners: Wendi Schneider". AI-AP. Retrieved February 4, 2020.
  31. "Honorable Mention: Wendi Schneider". ND Awards. Retrieved January 30, 2020.
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