More
than 75 years ago photographer Walker Evans captured compelling
images of the Great Depression that portrayed an era of suffering
and hope.
Fifty years later photos from George Fox University students will be
used to integrate photography and music for the Portland Youth
Philharmonic’s performance of Aaron Copland’s “The Tender Land
Suite,” a composition inspired by the depression-era photography of
Evans.
The philharmonic will perform the piece during its winter concert,
set for 7:30 p.m. Saturday.
Lindsey Walker, a sophomore art major at George Fox University,
submitted five photos in response to a request from the PYP.
“They really liked this one photo that was a close-up on car lights
on an old Dodge,” Walker said.
Her other photos highlighted construction workers and skateboarders
in a modern interpretation of Evans’ work, which focused on the
harshness of poverty in the South during the Depression.
Oregon Art Beat, a television program offered on public
broadcasting, aired a segment Feb. 17 about the upcoming PYP
performance of “The Tender Land Suite” and interviewed Walker to get
her perspective on the photography component of the performance.
“When they first started interviewing me, I didn’t know quite what
to say, so I started rambling on,” she said. “It was interesting
watching myself (on television later). It was like, ‘did I say
that?’ ‘Did I look like that?’ It was kind of funny.”
Walker said it was a challenge to capture the spirit of Evans’ work
without duplicating his shots.
“It’s similar because it is trying to capture the real person, but I
think the real person these days is not the same as in the
Depression era,” Walker said, explaining why she focused on
hardworking people. “I’m trying to look on the lighter side of
things and put a lot more nostalgia in it.”
Walker photographed many construction workers in Salem as she
prepared the photos she later submitted.
“I think they embody the idea of a working person,” she said,
contrasting her photos with Evan’s work. “They were a little bit
happier — just hardworking men.”
Eventually, Walker hopes to incorporate her photography into various
art forms. “It’s kind of a stable job as far as the arts go,” she
said. |
