From Park Slope To The Georgia Swamp And Back: Sanctuary By Photographer Amy Williams At 440 Gallery

For those of you who have lived or spent time in the deep south of the United States, you’re aware of the how fascinating nature and the environment can be. The woods, the swamps, and the colors have their own character… and their own secrets.

Local photographer Amy Williams recently opened Sanctuary, her exhibition currently showing at 440 Gallery (440 6th Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets). Williams took a road trip off the beaten path and offers a collection of images that blend a fascinating artistic experiment with an abstracted view of natural elements.

As she was readying for her show’s opening, Williams took some time to speak with us about her newest exhibit, the story behind her hot pink camera for this project, her relationship with 440 Gallery, and her neighborhood haunts.

SSN: Congrats on your opening at 440 Gallery. Have you worked here before?

Amy Williams: This is the sixth exhibit I’ve had here in 10 years. The 440 Gallery is a collective of artists. I moved to New York from Texas in 1999, and this has really been a home of mine. It’s very nurturing here.

When you shot the photos for this exhibition, how did you prepare to create this series of pieces?

As an artist, I don’t shoot photographs with the intention of working on a particular project. I see something that catches my eye and start taking photos. I know it’s good when my heart starts racing and I run out of film.

Sanctuary began when I was taking a road trip down to Miami with my husband in December 2014. When we’re on a road trip, we like to take the back roads. It’s a nice way to see the country. We took a side trip to the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia. It’s not just a swamp — it’s a wildlife refuge with a pristine environment.

We’ve treated our swamps as if they are not an important part of the ecosystem, and I’m very interested in them for more than just a creative resource and am planning another trip back to Okefenokee this winter. There are flora and fauna in these swamps that only exist in these particular places. It’s such a shame that most folks don’t recognize the importance of that type of place. Fortunately, this swamp has been preserved and still exists as it did hundreds, perhaps thousands of years ago.

We went on a boat tour, and it turned out we were the only ones on it. So my husband relaxed with our tour guide and I just started shooting. My husband later admitted to me that he thought I was nuts with my big plastic, pink camera. He didn’t know what was going on or how to explain it to the tour guide. Luckily, they didn’t ask and just let me do my thing.

Since you weren’t planning on shooting, did you have all of your photography gear with you?

Yes, I knew I wanted to shoot in the swamp so I brought this cheap $20 hot pink Holga camera with me, and an older digital camera. The Holga camera is really interesting because you get a square negative, and they are notorious for light leaks and other abnormalities.

This shoot was a total experiment because I was also shooting on expired film. I thought, “Hey, what have I got to lose? It could either be a total disaster or really wonderful.” I got lucky on that shoot and made some of my best work yet.

In this day of digital cameras, we get instant gratification because we can see what we shot immediately. You were in the swamp with a Holga camera. Did you have any idea what your photos looked like?

I had no idea what they looked like until I got the film back from the lab! It’s all about the camera in this case. I didn’t have the controls that you find on most cameras — such as an F-stop or shutter speed. The images were contingent on how long I kept the shutter open by depressing the button. And since we were on a boat, I was also on a moving object. So that’s why there is so much movement in the photographs.

What was your response to the results you achieved?

I’m always looking for abstraction in nature so was quite thrilled with the outcome. I don’t see myself as a documentarian, rather I’m always looking for something beautiful or eye-catching or somewhat mysterious, and it usually is devoid of humans.

I hand-printed the photos at a darkroom called LuxLab and worked with Gunar Roze, who is a master printer. We have collaborated several times in the past, and this time we really nailed it. He helped me find the right color palette, and pushed the blues so that the work together came together as a cohesive body of work.

How about shooting photos in your own neighborhood? Are you influenced by the Slope?

Definitely. Prospect Park. The natural world in the park is what I’m drawn to, especially near the Audubon Center. The algae in the lake is so fascinating — how it moves, and just watching the water change patterns when it moves. Also, the Gowanus always makes me stop and take pause to look at what’s happening on the surface of the water. Most of the time I walk by it and see an oil slick with lots of colors, looking all iridescent and psychedelic.

There’s also great street culture here. But I’m not much of a street shooter. Maybe it’s because I grew up in Texas with a big, open sky, tall trees, and lakes that I keep going back to the natural world.

So how about your Park Slope haunts when you’re not shooting photos?

I walk everywhere in this neighborhood. I enjoy the farmers’ markets. Frozen yogurt from Culture [331 5th Avenue]. I love grabbing lunch or dinner at Bar Toto [411 11th Street]. It just has a nice vibe, good service, and decent food. The owner Peter [Sclafani] is a nice guy. And the prices are reasonable. I also go to Bar Tano [457 3rd Avenue] and Provini [1302 8th Avenue], his other two places.

Do you have any plans for your next exhibit at 440 Gallery?

This is going to be my last show before I leave this comfortable nest. The community has been amazing. It has enabled me to take as many risks as I want here without a fear of failure. But I’m ready for the next steps on bringing my work elsewhere. But I’m enjoying this exhibit right now.

The Exhibition Rundown: Sanctuary by Amy Williams
Where: 440 Gallery (440 6th Avenue, between 9th and 10th Streets)
When: Now through Sunday, October 18
Phone: 718-499-3844
Hours: Thursdays and Fridays 4-7pm; Saturdays and Sundays 11am-7pm
Admission: Free