Constructed Landscapes: Bridging Worlds Both Real and Imagined With Anna Rotty

Santa Fe Workshops collection of free online events, Creativity Continues, features an evening presentation in May with photographer and educator Anna Rotty, whose artistic practice utilizes photography as a tool to collaborate with the natural world and practice new ways of seeing. Working with an iterative process of photographing and re-photographing, Anna’s images bridge two- and three-dimensional forms, prompting viewers to examine preconceived notions of landscape photography.

In this presentation, Anna begins by discussing the construction of faux landscapes from her early series Terra, through which she explores the emotional aspects of making images about a climate in crisis during the isolation of the COVID-19 lockdowns. Anna then traces a conceptual throughline to her more recent bodies of work, including How We Hold the Sun and Shallows Unfolding, which focus on the unique desert waters of New Mexico.

Anna’s photographs, deeply defined by location, offer a multidimensional method of working with the environment to document not only the physical appearance of a place, but to communicate deeper emotional notions surrounding the infrastructure of our built and natural worlds. Emphasizing the importance of play and exploration, Anna talks about how embracing the unexpected in her work has led to learning, growth, and new directions to investigate.

The program concludes with a live Q&A with the webinar audience. For those unable to attend live, a recording is available to all registered participants.

Creativity Continues is a program that collectively develops creative voices by offering connection and encouraging expression. Because the goal is to engage all within our creative community, we encourage you to extend invitations and share Santa Fe Workshops Creativity Continues events with anyone who expresses an interest.