Lecture Entry: Amy Stein

Earlier this month, our department hosted photographer Amy Stein, a graduate of New York's School of Visual Arts. Stein first became interested in photography in her early thirties, assisting at photo schools and submitting images to online publications and newspapers. When one of her images became the cover photo of the Washington Post, she gained the confidence and momentum to keep invested in photography. Stein's first real series of images were born after the DC sniper incident and was titled, "Women and Guns". Because Washington DC was the capital of guns and violence, she studied the culture of people who own and use guns frequently. This series eventually led to an interest in the animals slain after a hunting party. Stein began to research taxidermists and photograph their own handiwork in Pennsylvania. The artist came up with the novel idea of returning these taxidermic animals back into nature, where once they lived. This idea grew into the "Domesticated" series, which was created in Pennsylvania in the summer of 2005. The images are based on real stories of animals coming out at night and wandering around town, yet they have a fantastic, otherworldly feel. These animals look for their old habitat amongst parking lots, swimming pools, and light poles. All of the animals appear to be living as they amble discontentedly around man-made environments.
In a more recent series, Stein photographed ill-fated motorists along America's highways. The "Stranded" series features portraits of drivers and passengers whose vehicles have broken down, standing next to their dilapidated cars. This series does not jog the imagination as her previous efforts have. Perhaps this imagery is too familiar or the compositions are too close to other works.

It may be because Amy Stein is relatively new to the world of photography, but it is refreshing to hear from an artist who appears grounded and not too swept up in her success. I liked to hear about her process and the evolution of her ideas. Stein was quick to acknowledge her influences and that there exists similar series to her own. She spoke earnestly and welcomed questions from the audience.