Zoe's biography

I'm Zoe Strauss.
I was born on April 1, 1970 in Philadelphia, PA. Except for 2 years in Nevada when I was a kid, I have lived in Philadelphia for my entire life.

I live in South Philly with my partner of 17 years, the #1 lady of all time, Lynn Bloom.
I have 2 younger brothers, Cosmo Baker and Walker Roberts, and a younger sister, Savannah Roberts. My mom, Ilene Baker, lives a few blocks from me. I have lucked out with having a great family, including my extended family and my in-laws.

There are a million things I'm interested in. Maybe more than one million. However, I have narrowed down my top interests for sake of this biography.

Photography
The Cold War
American History, particularly 1930's to present
Contemporary Art
Coal Mining
South Philly
Political Activism
Jungian Theory, myths and the Andrew Lang Fairy Books

Right now, I'm working on this 10 year long photography project and I'm in the 6th year of it. This last year I blew up with total fanciness in my art career.

First, in 2005, I got a Pew Fellowship.

Then check my roster for this last year-

Day for Night: Whitney Biennial
Summer Vacation, a group show at the Philadelphia Museum of Art
"This is America," a group show at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, Netherlands
A solo show at Acuna-Hansen gallery in Los Angeles
Under I-95 in South Philly
And, of course, a solo show at the Philadelphia Institute of Contemporary Art on the ramp.

WHHHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOO! HELL, YES!


So, it's through the ICA that I've come to this project. Ms. Johanna Plummer conceived this project and asked me to be a part of it and I am thrilled and honored that she did.


Also-
Favorite Food- Salmon
Favorite Candy Bar- Symphony in the blue wrapper
Favorite Color- Orange
Favorite Coffee Shop- The Bean Cafe
Least Favorite President- George Bush, Jr

Yes.

I am hoping that everyone is holding up ok. I know this is a long haul but it's totally 100% worth it.
Love,
Zoe Strauss

Seperated at birth?

Tom and Ariel

Photo Credit- Tameme

Zoe's favorite AIC intern photos

Photo Credit- Charday


Photo Credit- Daliyl


Photo Credit- Diane


Photo Credit- Phylicia


Photo Credit- Tameme


Photo Credit- Tracy

Quotes

I've never made any picture, good or bad, without paying for it in emotional turmoil.
W. Eugene Smith

Passion is in all great searches and is necessary to all creative endeavors.
W. Eugene Smith




Tomoko Uemura in Her Bath
Minamata, 1972
W. Eugene Smith
-------------------


My favourite thing is to go where I've never been.
Diane Arbus

--------------------
My work is intensely personal.
Andres Serrano

My use of the medium - photography - is in some ways traditional.
Andres Serrano

--------------------
It has never been my object to record my dreams, just the determination to realize them.
Man Ray

Of course, there will always be those who look only at technique, who ask 'how', while others of a more curious nature will ask 'why'. Personally, I have always preferred inspiration to information.
Man Ray

--------------------
Photography helps people to see.
Berenice Abbott

There are many teachers who could ruin you. Before you know it you could be a pale copy of this teacher or that teacher. You have to evolve on your own.
Berenice Abbott

--------------------


Whether he is an artist or not, the photographer is a joyous sensualist, for the simple reason that the eye traffics in feelings, not in thoughts.
Walker Evans


It's the way to educate your eyes. Stare. Pry, listen eavesdrop. Die knowing something. You are not here long.
Walker Evans


more later

Two quotes for the first week

"The meeting of two personalities is like the contact of two chemical substances: if there is any reaction, both are transformed."
Carl G. Jung

"I'm on my grown woman, still I rep for the kids"
Mary J. Blige