Jane Waggoner Deschner
Jane Waggoner Deschner grew up in Lawrence, Kansas, moving to Montana in 1977. She earned degrees in geography at the University of Kansas and, later, in art at Montana State University–Billings (BA) and Vermont College of Fine Arts (MFA). She exhibits actively with recent solo shows in Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and Montana.
Artist Statement
During my last semester in grad school, I began accumulating found vernacular photographs -- my archive now exceeds 60,000 -- primarily snapshots and studio portraits. Initially, I made enlarged archival prints from scanned snapshots manipulated in Photoshop. In 2007, fatigued by hours at the keyboard, I began hand-embroidering quotes into studio portraits. Adding famous persons’ words to vernacular images, I could ventriloquize thoughts my aging, maternal (increasingly opinionated) self wanted to express. Later I added illustrative drawings and collaged/juxtaposed images to my work. Stitching by hand is a laborious, time-consuming process that provides me a satisfying, meditative intimacy with these mechanically-captured moments of unknown people’s lives.
There is a richness in vernacular photos whether or not we know the person, place or time. By asking viewers to look carefully -- to react to quotations, decipher symbols and signs, and/or puzzle out juxtapositions -- I renew and transform their experience of looking at old photographs. By engaging them with other people’s family photos, I alter the way they see their own. They come to realize, as I did, how universal this form of expression is -- and how precious.
Artist Statement
During my last semester in grad school, I began accumulating found vernacular photographs -- my archive now exceeds 60,000 -- primarily snapshots and studio portraits. Initially, I made enlarged archival prints from scanned snapshots manipulated in Photoshop. In 2007, fatigued by hours at the keyboard, I began hand-embroidering quotes into studio portraits. Adding famous persons’ words to vernacular images, I could ventriloquize thoughts my aging, maternal (increasingly opinionated) self wanted to express. Later I added illustrative drawings and collaged/juxtaposed images to my work. Stitching by hand is a laborious, time-consuming process that provides me a satisfying, meditative intimacy with these mechanically-captured moments of unknown people’s lives.
There is a richness in vernacular photos whether or not we know the person, place or time. By asking viewers to look carefully -- to react to quotations, decipher symbols and signs, and/or puzzle out juxtapositions -- I renew and transform their experience of looking at old photographs. By engaging them with other people’s family photos, I alter the way they see their own. They come to realize, as I did, how universal this form of expression is -- and how precious.
in the studio..........
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Other works.........
"Jesus, assorted people," 2014, found photos, holy cards, 11"h x 15"w
"from the silhouette series (standing couple)," 2014, hand embroidered snapshots and 100-year-old album paper, 55.25"h x 33.125"w
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from the garment series (family suit), 2009, hand embroidered snapshots, 52.5"h x 46"w x 2"d
"from the album series (Plautus, Persevere)," 2014, hand embroidered vintage album page, 7.125"h x 5"w
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