Photographer Weaves Words Into Images

Mary Strubbe has been taking pictures since age six, when she received her first camera. Her dad, brother and sister were also photography buffs, often sharing space in their basement darkroom. By the time Mary was a teenager, she was hooked.

Mary explains that, because she was naturally quiet, “I liked the idea of the camera acting as a mask between me and the outside physical world. It gave me unspoken permission to explore mysterious territory.” Since 2000, Mary has been quietly practicing her writing life in WWfaC’s Wednesday night women’s writing class. But with photography, she adds, “I get to shout! “

This summer, Mary has been the Guest Artist for the Young Women’s Writing Camps, thanks to a grant from the Ohio Arts Council. Mary has been helping young girls and teens explore their ideas through photography. “The process of exploration takes more than just focusing the camera and snapping the shutter,” she says. Working with these young writers, Mary has used a combination of elements – objects from the girls’ lives, writing flashed from an overhead projector, and the magic of light and shadow.

Participants in the Young Women’s Camps created still life portraits, focusing on a few key elements to convey who they are through the photo. “They’re not actually IN the photo,” she explains, “but through words and images, you get the picture!” Each girl takes home a print (Mary spent evenings processing at a neighborhood Krogers) which is a unique and original work of art. “The girls love the instant digital feedback from their creativity,” she says, “and they’re quick, enthusiastic learners, playing with angles, shadows and placement. It’s been great fun!”

Mary says she tries to get across to participants that their ideas are important, and that creating art has less to do with gift or talent than with trusting one's intuition and creative process. Payoff comes when she sees their confidence and self-esteem increase. “And it’s been a treat for me to be at WWfaC as a faculty instructor, after years of being here as a writer.”

Mary can be reached at: mstrubbe@earthlink.net, or at her Website: www.marystrubbe.com