Deb Schwedhelm: FROM THE SEA

Exhibition: October 6 – 29, 2017
Opening Reception: Friday, Oct 6th, 5:30 to 8:30pm

Artists Statement:
In this series, I am exploring a sense of place and belonging. Being in the military system, my family often lives in a world of uncertainty. Untethered, without an anchor. The sea acts as an allegory of our lives, shifting and moving with the tides — forcing us to tread, swim and stay afloat through the changes. While I am photographing my children and friends, I am also photographing myself, moving in and out of focus, allowing the liquid world to illustrate my journey.

The photographs in this series were made in the waters of Florida, Minnesota and Asia between 2012 and 2016. The photographs were captured digitally using underwater housing. Prints are produced on museum quality fine art paper and are limited to editions of fifteen.

Biography:
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Deb Schwedhelm was originally trained as Registered Nurse and subsequently spent 10 years employed as an Air Force Nurse. Although she has been passionate about photography since her early 20s, it wasn’t until Deb left the military that she was finally able to pursue the medium as a full time career.

Deb’s photographs have been exhibited widely and featured in numerous publications throughout the world. She has received awards from PhotoNOLA, New Orleans, LA; MPLS Photo Center, Minneapolis, MN; The Perfect Exposures Gallery, Los Angeles, CA; A. Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX; Santa Fe Photographic Workshops, Santa Fe, NM; and The Art of Photography Show, San Diego, CA. Deb was named one of the Top 50 in Critical Mass, 2013. Her photographs have also been selected for the permanent collection of The Center for Fine Art Photography, Fort Collins, CO.

Deb is married to a Naval Explosive Ordnance Disposal Officer based in Virginia. She is the mother to three children, who are often the subjects of her photographs. 

Selections from the exhibition: