Atlanta native Susan Wirt studied in New York and London to become a classical musician. After working as a professional bassoonist for several years, she held management positions in a tech firm before moving to higher education, where she served as the Executive Director of Continuing Education at Columbus State University in Columbus, Georgia. Susan retired in 2020 and, after 20 years of creating lifelong learning opportunities for the community, took a “busman’s holiday” and studied digital photography. With an affinity for contemporary painting and sculpture, she became intrigued with creating similar effects with digital tools. That began the road to exploration and a burning desire to make photos that enable the viewer to look for something else.
Artist Statement
My work is all about seeing abstraction in the ordinary. The camera is a tool that I use like a paint brush, to explore visual techniques and express redefined narratives of digital imagery. There is an exciting serendipity in producing images like this, altering what is there and questioning what is seen.
My photography is strongly influenced by music: dynamic range, texture/timbre, patterns, melody, rhythm, harmony. I aim to create abstract images that have depth, form, and an expressive quality. The musical influences of Stravinsky, Bartok, and Prokofiev inspire me, not only because they conceive of melody, harmony, and rhythm in unexpected ways, but they also use texture as an expressive element.
I am drawn to working with my hands. I have painted fabrics, employed quilting techniques, and worked with fiber to create unique fiber abstracts. Taking concepts from my own tactile works, I have synthesized a similar approach in my abstract photography work.
Exhibits
2023 Atlanta Photography Group - Concepts 2023 - Abstraction: Envisioning a Different World
2023 Bo Bartlett Center - Beyond Go Figure IV
2023 Columbus Artists' Guild - Members Exhibition Award: Photography Media - Second Place
2024 Fifth LaGrange Southeast Regional - LaGrange Art Museum