I just interviewed Augusta Wood for Anthem Magazine and am posting a copy of the interview here:
Los Angeles-based photographer Augusta Wood has a series of new work currently showing at her brother’s (painter Jonas Wood) studio space in Culver City. The show is closing this weekend, and if you live in the Los Angeles area, is well worth a hustle over there to view it before it moves on. Wood’s approach to photography is more that of an artist than a documentarian of moments. Her works often contain words or phrases that interact with the imagery and scene. Her latest series of work, “I Have Only What I Remember,” was shot inside her vacant grandparent’s home, using layerings of projected slides to approximate her memories of the space from her childhood. We sat down with Wood after the opening to find out more about what drives her work, as well as to bring you her suggestions on an end-of-summer reading list. Enjoy!
When did you first start taking photographs? Was there a pivotal moment when you decided that this was something you wanted to pursue as a career?
My parents remember me saying that I wanted to be an artist when I was 5. When I was younger, I drew a lot and started making photographs when I was 10 or 11, but I don’t think I really thought about focusing on photography until I went to art school. I went to Cooper Union [for undergraduate], where you can take any medium you want as long as you fulfill your studio requirements. I took drawing classes, I took photo classes, I took film and video and printmaking. But I ended up gravitating towards photography. It really captivated me. There was something about whole process, the act of looking, thinking about optics, framing, light, working in the darkroom. Then I got my masters in photography and media at CalArts.
Someone once said to me, “If you can’t imagine yourself doing anything else, then you’re doing what you should be doing.” I could never imagine myself doing anything else, so there wasn’t really a question about what path I would take. (more…)
