Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I’ve Found

By in Photography

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I’ve Found

Have you ever looked at a bunch of flowers, or walked through a garden or park and thought the flowers would make a fantastic subject for a photograph?

Have you struggled to capture a mood or a style that really makes them stand out as a memorable shot that you’re happy with?

Do you look at other people’s photos with envy and wish you could take those sorts of shots?

Then you’ve come to the right place as I’m going to share with you ten tips on flower photography that I’ve found work amazingly well to help you get great images, EVERY time!

More info: dpture.com

Your subject is the key to success

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

Make sure that what you are going to shoot is pleasing to the eye. A nice flower will always look better than a withered one (although it can work in some shots – I’ll come to this later) but don’t discount something that’s unique. A petal out of place, or a different coloration can lead the eye into the scene and give you an appealing photo. Remember it’s your shot – even if it’s of a flower that’s been shot a thousand times by others you can put your own unique stamp on it and make the picture your own.

Light Light Light!

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

Light is one of the most important factors in photographing flowers. Too dark and you’ll lose the impact of the image. Too light and you run the risk of blowing out your highlights and losing detail. The perfect balance is a well-exposed shot with little or no peaked highlights and strong detail.
If the scene is too dark and you need to add light, don’t be afraid to experiment! A phone torch, handheld flashlight, or dedicated photography fill light are great options. Try altering the direction that you’re providing the light from and the intensity, and if you have the option, play with colors too – the whole feel of the image can be changed by literally changing the direction that you’re illuminating it from so try a few different angles – don’t be afraid to experiment!

Depth Of Field – knowing when to f-stop?

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

Another important factor is the depth of field that you’re shooting with. If you’re using a mobile phone to take the shot then there are a few options on most phones to play with the f-stop, or aperture width, in Pro-Photo mode or similar and if you’re using a camera, try shooting in Aperture Priority mode to give you control over the aperture but not needing to worry about ISO or shutter speed.

Ideally, you want to get the flower in focus as much as possible and the background nicely blurred. Depending on your camera or phone system somewhere between f/4.5 and f/5.6 is a good starting point as this will give a reasonable amount of detail to the subject but should throw the background nicely out of focus to stop it from becoming a distraction and keep the viewer interested in the details of the image.

A handy side effect of using a fairly wide aperture is Bokeh – the round, out-of-focus balls that you sometimes get from light sources on an out-of-focus background. This can really set a scene and provide some interest in the image without becoming overpowering and detracting from the subject.

Composition – less is more, sometimes!

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

Occasionally you may want to pick a single flower to photograph, like a rose for example, and this becomes your subject that’s framed by a nice contrasting background (black works well for red roses!) to create a striking scene.

But sometimes, especially out in a garden or park, a group of flowers looks more appealing if you keep the grouping together. It’s also good to remember that a group of flowers doesn’t all need to be in focus – experiment with where you’re focussing and try to zone in on a single flower head. The other flowers in the group will then blend away from the main subject and give a nice soft look to the image and complement your subject well.

Don’t be afraid to mix it up either – a foreground daisy with a blurred background of yellow buttercups in grass really makes for a nice composition!

Gear matters

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

The age-old argument that gear doesn’t matter is mostly true, except sometimes you need a little extra to help you get the shot you want.

A small travel tripod is a great addition and will help you get nice steady shots. Remember, you don’t need something 2 meters tall, but something that can let you get down low to get the perspective like you’re walking among the flowers instead of towering over them!

Whether you’re using a mobile phone or the latest mirrorless camera, keeping things steady can help you get the image right, the first time. If you’re outdoors, carrying a piece of white card to reflect sunlight can also be a great addition and doesn’t cost the earth either. If you’re indoors, it can be used to diffuse light around your subject which can give a nice soft pleasing look too.
Macro lenses are useful, but a standard kit lens can get great results too if you get your settings right.

Beauty Is In The Eye Of The Beholder

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

Occasionally a withered or dying flower can give a whole new dimension to an image. The detail that you can get from a drying petal or dying leaf can give you something to set your image apart from the crowd. Try shooting in black and white too – some of the most colorful flowers look even better when converted into monochrome as it stops the viewer from getting distracted by the colors and seeing more of the details. Don’t be afraid to increase contrast on the image too – light and dark sections can really come alive and complement each other when they’re pushed a little with the contrast slider!

It’s worth remembering though not to push too far – it’s very easy to get carried away with the sliders. Remember we’re looking for something that we can still recognize as a flower! Which leads nicely to the next tip.

A Bug In The System

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

Sometimes you’ll come across a flower that has a bug on it and this can give a great focal point but it takes some care and practice! If you’re shooting with a long zoom lens, having the extra distance away from the bug will help you get the shot without disturbing it. If you need to get closer though, do things very slowly. Once you get used to shooting bugs though you’ll find it much easier to spot them and incorporate them into your image without scaring them off. Remember though, they don’t stand still for long so getting lined up with your shot will be a case of balancing speed and stealth to get the image you want. Don’t be afraid of failure – it’s all good practice and soon you’ll nail that perfect shot of a bug on a flower!

Sunshine and showers

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

Shooting flowers after rain is one of the great challenges but one of the most rewarding because of it.
The look of fresh raindrops on petals is a classic look and one that’s difficult to get out in the field due to the nature of having to time things just right with the light, the rain, and the wind!
I’ve found that if you can get out just as the rain is easing, you’re more likely to get a shot of the raindrops before they start to run off and the inevitable wind gets up blowing things around and making it hard to get your scene in focus. There’s also the cheat method though, by using a spray bottle and a hand-picked flower in front of a window you can recreate the effect but have much more control over the subject and also add in little extras like light, color, and backgrounds too!

Know your camera

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

It kind of goes without saying that before you can dive in and get some more advanced shots you need to know how to change the settings on your camera or mobile phone to get the best out of it. Experiment with your settings, adjust your aperture, play with the depth of field, and remember what each of them looks like.

In no time you’ll be able to dial those settings in without much trouble and get the shot you’re wanting with the minimum of fuss. Learning how to use your gear is one of the most rewarding things you can do and will pay dividends in helping you get more shots, with the look you’re after, and with the confidence that you know why these settings work for the shot you’re taking.

It’s All In The Edit

Here Are 10 Tips For Enchanting Flower Photography That I've Found

A common misconception is you have to heavily edit your photos to get the “professional” look. Certainly, with flower photography, this isn’t the case and sometimes the camera’s JPG is so good it needs no editing at all! If you’ve got the lighting, depth of field, and composition right you’ll find most shots will look amazing straight out of the camera. It doesn’t mean you don’t have to edit, but it means it’ll be a lot nicer to start with!

Sculpture Planned for John F. Kennedy Park in Richmond

By in Sculpture

Sculpture Planned for John F. Kennedy Park in Richmond
The Richmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) and the Recreation and Parks Commission (RPC), is recommending the City Council approve a contract today for a $100,000 public art commission by Tiffany Conway and Ari Takata-Vasquez in Richmond’s John F. Kennedy Park. | By Kathy Chouteau The Richmond Standard The Richmond Arts and Culture Commission (RACC) and the Recreation and Parks Commission (RPC), is recommending the City Council approve a contract today for a $100,000 public art commission by Tiffany Conway and Ari Takata-Vasquez in Richmond’s John F. Kennedy Park. The public art commission project would commence at the park July 1

187 Badgers named to spring and at-large Academic All-Big Ten team

By in Art World News

187 Badgers named to spring and at-large Academic All-Big Ten team

MADISON, Wis. — Excelling both in competition and the classroom, 187 student-athletes from University of Wisconsin sports teams were named to the spring and at-large 2022-23 Academic All-Big Ten team, as announced by the Big Ten on Monday.

Across 11 teams competing in the spring and at-large for the conference, women’s rowing led the list with 36 honorees, while women’s track and field tallied 35, men’s rowing had 25 recipients and women’s lightweight rowing added 20. The Badgers’ men’s track and field team had 19 honorees, while softball and women’s hockey tied with 16 honorees each. In tennis, the UW women earned six honors and the men’s program earned five honors, while in golf, the UW women earned six honors and the men earned three recognitions.

The Big Ten Conference recognized a total of 2,224 students on spring and at-large sports rosters who have been named to the Academic All-Big Ten Team.

To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team, as verified by being on the official squad list as of May 1 for spring sports, have been enrolled full-time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.

Leading in the classroom, an impressive 13 Badgers maintained a perfect 4.0 grade-point average (bolded below):

  • Danielle Bellino, Women’s Track and Field, Gr., Biology and Nutritional Sciences
  • Armoni Brown, Women’s Track and Field, Gr., Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling
  • Breck Duncan, Men’s Rowing, Gr., Mechanical Engineering
  • Brandi Gueths, Women’s Rowing, Gr., Kinesiology
  • Vivian Hacker, Women’s Track and Field, Sr., Landscape Architecture
  • Kayla Konwent, Softball, Gr., Sports Leadership
  • Cami Kronish, Women’s Hockey, Gr., Sports Leadership
  • Nicole LaMantia, Women’s Hockey, Gr., Sports Leadership
  • Kylie Magnus, Women’s Rowing, So., Conservation Biology and Spanish
  • Ava Markham, Women’s Tennis, Sr., Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis
  • Maggie Munson, Women’s Track and Field, So., Legal Studies and Political Science
  • Josie Schaefer, Women’s Track and Field, Gr., Sports Leadership
  • Rianne Wagner, Women’s Lightweight Rowing, So., Agronomy

Overall, Wisconsin totals 382 student-athletes who have earned Academic All-Big Ten honors during the 2022-23 academic year across all sports. Read the fall announcement here and the winter announcement here.

Men’s Golf (3)

Cameron Huss, Jr., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies, Kenosha, Wis.

Graham Moody, So., Business: Supply Chain Management, Vancouver, Wash.

Coalter Smith, Sr., Legal Studies and Political Science, Gross Pointe Farms, Mich.

Women’s Golf (6)

Chloe Chan, So., Civil Engineering and Geography, Hong Kong

Nicole Ciskowski, Sr., Business: Marketing, Barrington, Ill.

Gia Feliciano, Jr., Business: Finance, Investment and Banking, Concord, Calif.

Vanessa Ho, So., Psychology, San Diego, Calif.

Camille Kuznik, So., Health Promotion and Health Equity, Orono, Minn.

Emily Lauterbach, Sr., Consumer Behavior and Marketplace Studies, Hartland, Wis.

Women’s Hockey (16)

Natalie Buchbinder, Gr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Fairport, N.Y.

Britta Curl, Sr., Kinesiology, Bismarck, N.D.

Lacey Eden, Jr., Business: Marketing and International Business, Annapolis, Md.

Chayla Edwards, Sr., Psychology, Cleveland Heights, Ohio

Jane Gervais, Sr., Business: Operations & Technology Management, Valcourt, Quebec

Sophie Helgeson, So., Personal Finance, Roseau, Minn.

Katie Kotlowski, Sr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Warroad, Minn.

Cami Kronish, Gr., Sports Leadership, New York, N.Y.

Nicole LaMantia, Gr., Sports Leadership, Wayne, Ill.

Casey O’Brien, Jr., Business: Marketing, Milton, Mass.

Marianne Picard, So., Biochemistry, Repentigny, Quebec

Grace Shirley, Sr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Sophie Shirley, Sr., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Mayson Toft, Jr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Lowry, Minn.

Maddi Wheeler, Jr., Kinesiology, Erinsville, Ontario

Sarah Wozniewicz, So., Business: Finance, Investment & Banking and Actuarial Science, Cochrane, Alberta

Men’s Rowing (25)

Joshua Barth, Sr., Business: Risk Management & Insurance and Finance, Investment & Banking, Verona, Wis.

Henry Benton, So., Business: Finance, Investment & Banking, New Canaan, Conn.

Benjamin Burke, Jr., Political Science, St. Louis

Joseph Cleary, Sr., Business: Accounting and Information Systems, Brookfield, Wis.

Peter Davis, So., Mechanical Engineering, Alamo, Calif.

Breck Duncan, Gr., Mechanical Engineering, Brookfield, Wis.

Olin Frederiks, Sr., Statistics, Old Lyme, Conn.

Connor Goff, Jr., Economics, Kenilworth, Ill.

Daniel Hintzman, Jr., Business: Real Estate & Urban Land Economics and Music, New Berlin, Wis.

Matthew King, Sr., Agricultural Business Management, Naperville, Ill.

Will Klipstine, So., Mechanical Engineering, Middleton, Wis.

Dylan Knanishu, So., Electrical Engineering, Batavia, Ill.

Mitchell Lafferty, So., Mechanical Engineering, Madison, Wis.

Sebastian Murrell, Sr., Data Science, Washington, D.C.

Jack O’Brien, So., Civil Engineering, Cos Cob, Conn.

Jonah Rane, Sr., Communication Arts, Glencoe, Ill.

Andrew Sabee, So., Computer Sciences and Computer Engineering, Oshkosh, Wis.

Aidan Schmidt, Sr., Biology, Eagan, Minn.

Liam Smith, So., Personal Finance, Rockford, Mich.

Walter Stanwood, So., Biology, Duxbury, Mass.

Luke Truog, So., Economics, Pewaukee, Wis.

Grayson VanLue, Sr., Microbiology, Brookfield, Wis.

Henry Voeller, So., Economics and Philosophy, Cedarburg, Wis.

Garrison Waugh, Jr., Data Science and Computer Sciences, Williamsburg, Mich.

Josh Wehking, Sr., Civil Engineering, Marshall, Wis.

Women’s Lightweight Rowing (20)

Maddie Buckley, So., Neurobiology and Psychology, Fox Point, Wis.

Claire Carlson, Sr., Industrial Engineering, Bloomington, Minn.

Emma Collins, Jr., Communication Arts, Duxbury, Mass.

Camila Darvin, Sr., Wildlife Ecology, Madison, Wis.

Grace DeNunzio, Sr., Business: Accounting, Nashville, Tenn.

Olivia Foli, So., Psychology and Spanish, Golden Valley, Minn.

Miranda Gilbertson, Sr., Data Science and German, Chanhassen, Minn.

Kate Hughes, So., Mechanical Engineering, Waukesha, Wis.

Helena Ikenberry, So., Microbiology, Washington, D.C.

Falcon Jaacks, Jr., Computer Sciences and Textiles & Fashion Design, Brownsville, Vt.

Carly Johnson, So., Business: Marketing, Jupiter, Fla.

Hannah Klein, So., Business: Information Systems and Finance, Investment & Banking, Orinda, Calif.

Alicia Le Bars, Jr., Neurobiology, San Jose, Calif.

Olivia Moore, So., Nursing, Elkhorn, Wis.

Evelyn Payne, So., Kinesiology, Minneapolis

Sarah Rab, So., Biology and Latin, Skillman, N.J.

Abby Stoa, So., Elementary Education and Education Studies, Lakeville, Minn.

Aubrey Trimbach, So., Neurobiology, Dayton, Ohio

Rianne Wagner, So., Agronomy, Wilmette, Ill.

Gracie Walker, So., Horticulture, Wisconsin Dells, Wis.

Women’s Rowing (36)

Anna Ardito, Sr., Microbiology, Mahtomedi, Minn.

Grace Belson, Sr., Legal Studies and Sociology, Stevens Point, Wis.

Alexandra Bogner, Sr., Agricultural & Applied Economics, Environmental Studies, and Psychology, Middleton, Wis.

Katherine Breen, Sr., Engineering Physics, Mississauga, Ontario

Susie Bruce, Sr., Data Science, Oxford, Md.

Nora Byrne, Jr., Legal Studies and Psychology, Shorewood, Wis.

Fiona Campbell, So., Political Science, Washington, D.C.

Sarah Chan, Jr., Business: Real Estate & Urban Land Economics and Finance, Investment & Banking, Manhasset, N.Y.

Nora Clements, So., Elementary Education, Chicago

Caitlin Cowan, Jr., Economics, Los Angeles

Kendra Davis, Gr., Data Science and Computer Sciences, Oshkosh, Wis.

Julia DiNapoli, Sr., Biology, Northford, Conn.

Victoria Dugan, Jr., Human Development & Family Studies and Education Studies, Princeton, N.J.

Allison Elli, Sr., Anthropology and Environmental Studies, Wilmette, Ill.

Paula Filios, Sr., Economics and German, Alexandria, Va.

Jaclyn Garwood, Gr., Biological Systems Engineering, Burlington, Wis.

Brandi Gueths, Gr., Kinesiology, Shawano, Wis.

Lizzy Hanemann, Jr., Civil Engineering, Bridgewater, N.J.

Sophia Henshue, Gr., Kinesiology, Madison, Wis.

Morgan Jensema, Jr., Geography and Environmental Studies, Hortonville, Wis.

Tatum Korb, So., Interior Architecture, Los Gatos, Calif.

Eliza Lacoursiere, So., Undeclared, Green Bay, Wis.

Josefina Laznickova, Jr., Communication Arts and Journalism, Prague, Czech Republic

Ana Magana Campos, So., Communication Arts and Art, Sevilla, Spain

Kylie Magnus, So., Conservation Biology and Spanish, Fitchburg, Wis.

Katelyn Mamrick, So., Business: Risk Management & Insurance and Actuarial Science, Greer, S.C.

Lindsey Meyer, Jr., Psychology, Madison, Wis.

Jordan Morrissey, So., Biochemistry, Milwaukee

Georgia Morrow, Jr., Data Science and Computer Sciences, Minnetonka, Minn.

Macy Mosner, So., Psychology and Human Development & Family Studies, Lancaster, Pa.

Rebecca Sands, Sr., Biology, Miami

Jadyn Schensky, So., Kinesiology, Madison, Wis.

Sky Teegen, Sr., Psychology and Legal Studies, Crystal Lake, Ill.

Genevieve Whitehead, Sr., Agricultural Business Management and Economics, Glen Innes, NSW, Australia

Avery Wright, Jr., Rehabilitation Psychology and Psychology, Stillwater, Minn.

Oona Zilavy, So., Interior Architecture, Seattle

Softball (16)

Christaana Angelopulos, Sr., Communication Arts, Arvada, Colo.

Peyton Bannon, Jr., Human Development and Family Studies, Spring Grove, Ill.

Eden Dempsey, So., Civil Engineering, Jefferson, Wis.

Fiona Girardot, Sr., Business: Real Estate and Urban Land Economics, River Forest, Ill.

Abigail Herbst, Sr., Business: Management and Human Resources, Greenwood, Ind.

Kayla Konwent, Gr., Sports Leadership, Salem, Wis.

Brooke Kuffel, So., Undeclared, Crystal Lake, Ill.

Kate Linkletter, So., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies, Johnsburg, Ill.

Tessa Magnanimo, Sr., Psychology, Los Angeles, Calif.

Alyssa McClelland, Sr., Biology and Health Promotion & Health Equity, Kenosha, Wis.

Marytherese Nevin, So., Psychology, Orland Park, Ill.

Grace O’Brien, So., Mechanical Engineering, Hudson, Wis.

Gabi Salo, Jr., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Escanaba, Mich.

Molly Schlosser, So., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Maddie Schwartz, Gr., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies, Chanhassen, Minn.

Skylar Sirdashney, Jr., Psychology, The Woodlands, Texas

Men’s Tennis (5)

Gabriel Huber, Sr., Business: Finance, Investment & Banking and Risk Management & Insurance, Innsbruck, Austria

Mihailo Popovic, Jr., Computer Sciences, Belgrade, Serbia

Robin Parts, Sr., Economics, Tallin, Estonia

Jared Pratt, Gr., Chemistry, Charleston, S.C.

Sebastian Vile, Sr., Psychology, Rochester, Minn.

Women’s Tennis (6)

Xinyu Cai, Sr., Communication Arts, Wuhan, China

Taylor Cataldi, So., Political Science, Corona, Calif.

Ariel Johnson, So., Undeclared, Coconut Creek, Fla.

Ava Markham, Sr., Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis, Demarest, N.J.

Alina Mukhortova, Jr., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies and Information Science, Krasnodar, Russia

Charmaine Seah, Sr., Computer Sciences, Singapore

Men’s Track & Field (19)

Cade Amborn, Gr., Kinesiology, Bangor, Wis.

Sam Amusan, Jr., Biology, Rochester, Minn.

Liam Belson, Sr., Athletic Training, Stevens Point, Wis.

Jake Bourget, So., Kinesiology, Stevens Point, Wis.

Sam Coil, Gr., Business: Accounting, Sturgeon Lake, Minn.

Rowen Ellenberg, Sr., Civil Engineering, Appleton, Wis.

Colin Enz, Gr., Business: Accounting and Finance, Investment & Banking, Neenah, Wis.

Elliott Harris, So., Biomedical Engineering, Franklin, Wis.

Abdullahi Hassan, Jr., Consumer Behavior & Marketplace Studies and Information Science, Toronto, Ontario

Robby Hatch, Sr., Biology and Nutritional Sciences, Lodi, Wis.

Nick Hruskoci, Jr., Personal Finance, Fishers, Ind.

Quinn Lansill, Sr., Art, Brooklyn, N.Y.

Bob Liking, Jr., Physical Education, St. Charles, Ill.

Max Peckenschneider, Jr., Biology, Minneapolis

Jacob Schaefer, So., Personal Finance, Baraboo, Wis.

Adam Spencer, So., Business: Finance, Investment and Banking, Mckinnon, Australia

Jason Swarens, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, Terre Haute, Ind.

Joshua Truchon, So., Mechanical Engineering, West Allis, Wis.

Jacob Zednik, So., Landscape and Urban Studies, Elmsford, N.Y.

Women’s Track & Field (35)

Danielle Bellino, Gr., Biology and Nutritional Sciences, Lakeville, Minn.

Lauren Bilau, Jr., Neurobiology, Fort Atkinson, Wis.

CP Breit, Jr., Zoology and Biology, Downers Grove, Ill.

Armoni Brown, Gr., Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling, Waukesha, Wis.

Mya Bunke, So., Kinesiology, Slinger, Wis.

Lucinda Crouch, Sr., Business: Finance, Investment & Banking and Risk Management & Insurance, Brisbane, Australia

Tia Dorshorst, Gr., Public Health, Rudolph, Wis.

Kylie Finger, So., Biology, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Taylor Gilling, Sr., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Highland Park, Ill.

Vivian Hacker, Sr., Landscape Architecture, Madison, Wis.

Victoria Heiligenthal, Sr., Biomedical Engineering, Milford, Mich.

Heidi Heuerman, Sr., Business: Supply Chain Management, Operations & Technology Management, and Marketing, Columbus, Ohio

Mackenzie Heyroth, Sr., Psychology and Art, Lodi, Wis.

Destiny Huven, Sr., Human Development & Family Studies and Psychology, Milwaukee, Wis.

Danni Langseth, So., Business: Management and Human Resources, Weston, Wis.

Chloe Lindeman, Sr., Sociology, Fulton, Ill.

Madison Mooney, Gr., Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, Broomfield, Colo.

Julia Moore, So., Business: Marketing and International Business, Hartland, Wis.

Maggie Munson, So., Legal Studies and Political Science, Plymouth, Wis.

Chikere Oduocha, Jr., Nursing, Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Danielle Orie, Gr., Law, Buffalo, N.Y.

Abby Peeler, So., Sociology, Elburn, Ill.

Ashley Peterson, Jr., Psychology, Minocqua, Wis.

Kate Ricks, Sr., Neurobiology, Indianapolis

Kiley Robbins, Jr., Biology, Milwaukee, Wis.

Olivia Roberts, Sr., Mechanical Engineering, Plymouth, Minn.

Shea Ruhly, Sr., Biology and Psychology, Middleton, Wis.

Josie Schaefer, Gr., Sports Leadership, Baraboo, Wis.

Anna Schoesser, Jr., Civil Engineering, Badhomburg, Germany

Peyton Sippy, Sr., Rehabilitation Psychology, Janesville, Wis.

Kate Sperka, So., Neurobiology, Muskego, Wis.

Samantha Stieve, Sr., Business: Accounting, Germantown, Wis.

Ellen Van Doorn, Jr., Biochemistry, Nijmegen, Netherlands

Emma Watcke, Jr., Political Science, Hinsdale, Ill.

Alexa Westley, Sr., Health Promotion & Health Equity, Washington, N.J.

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Workers at Walters Art Museum win union election

By in Art World News

Workers at Walters Art Museum win union election


By AFSCME Maryland Council 3

·

Monday, June 26, 2023

BALTIMORE – Nearly 80 workers at the Walters Art Museum have overwhelmingly voted to form their union with AFSCME Maryland Council 3.  

Workers voted 60-5 in favor of their union during a June 15 election conducted by the American Arbitration Association. The new bargaining unit will consist of staff from the departments of retail operations, conservation, curatorial, safety and security, building operations, marketing and communication, installation and collections, learning and community engagement, and others. 

“I’m so overwhelmingly proud and happy to be a part of this amazing accomplishment. I’m in awe of my courageous colleagues who fought to make this happen. This is a great day and will be a lasting legacy we leave behind for future employees of the Walters,” said Will Murray, a lead maintenance technician at the Walters.  

The workers announced their intention to form Walters Workers United (WWU) in spring 2021 to resolve concerns regarding health and safety, pay equity, a voice in the workplace, and paths to career advancement, among other reasons. 

Throughout the organizing process, workers steadfastly fought for a “wall-to-wall” union — one union for all workers across the museum. Workers felt strongly that they should not be divided into two different bargaining units with multiple unions. 

“After more than two years of organizing, we are excited to see Walters Art Museum workers win their union election. The victory brings Walters Workers United closer towards a workplace where their talent and contributions are valued and their input and voices are respected and heard. We’re honored to have the members of Walters Workers United as part of the AFSCME Maryland family because all workers deserve the right to organize for the pay, respect and better working conditions,” said Council 3 President Patrick Moran. 

This victory is the third big win in the past year for Baltimore’s cultural workers organizing with AFSCME. Last year, workers at the Baltimore Museum of Art and the Enoch Pratt Free Library won their union elections with AFSCME.  

This wave of organizing is part of a national movement of workers at cultural and arts institutions coming together and organizing with AFSCME Cultural Workers United. CWU is a national organizing program that has enabled workers at museums, libraries, zoos and other cultural institutions to build power and gain a voice in the workplace.  

The inspiring true story behind the conspiracy-ridden murals at DIA

By in Art World News

The inspiring true story behind the conspiracy-ridden murals at DIA

“I need to see what’s wrong in society, and then reflect it in my murals. At the same time, I wanted to reflect what’s beautiful in society and in my community,” Leo summarized while explaining the intenion behind his works.  

28 years after unveiling the murals, Tanguma spoke to Rocky Mountain PBS at his granddaughter’s home surrounded by family photos and artwork. His daughter and collaborator Leticia Darlina Tanguma was nearby offering emotional support, welling with pride as her father reflected on his artistic legacy. 

“It was a spiritual awakening for me,” he added. “I’ve always been spiritual, I think. But those experiences moved me more to consider that what I had in my abilities was a God-given talent. And I think that was made important in those murals.”  

DIA conspiracies  

The murals at the airport, now temporarily in storage, depict the terrors of war and pollution. Amongst the chaos is a group of sleeping children. From their minds extends a grey mist that turns into a rainbow, leading to a portrayal of an ideal world entitled “In Harmony with Peace and Nature.”

image

Image courtesy: Denver International Airport

Despite the effort Tanguma, Darlina, and their supporters poured into the murals, the type of fame and recognition they received wasn’t what many artists pine for. Since their unveiling, conspiracy theories about the murals have run rampant.  

Darlina’s learned about some of the rumors in the early 2000’s. She recalls hearing, “‘People hate that mural. They say, you wanted 9/11 because of that figure of war. They say that in the Bible, all these dirty animals are unclean. They say, ‘Why are you painting people in coffins?’ And, you know, just on and on where it became a terrible conspiracy.” 

The delayed construction of the airport continued to feed rumors of secret underground networks, and with each new idea came a web of uncredible theories attempting to tie other works of art at the airport, like the mustang sculpture nicknamed “Blucifer,” to rumors of plotted terror.  

People have profited from books and documentaries about the theories, but Tanguma and Darlina say they have rarely been asked about the actual meaning behind the murals. 

And while many people find the conspiracies laughable (DIA has even turned some into a marketing opportunity), the consequences of these rumors are far from funny for the Tanguma family. 

The Impact of the conspiracy theories 

According to Darlina, the conspiracy theories started before the murals were even complete.  

“We did have a few people come in at the time that were painting it. They said, don’t paint this. There’s like a new world order. We had no idea what they were talking about back then.” Darlina shared. 

As soon as the conspiracy theories began, Tanguma lost two valuable commissions, and according to Darlina, both of them were harassed. Some people even resorted to death threats.

“People have said things like, ‘You need to destroy the art, you need to destroy the artist who did this,’” she recalled.  

“I thought and I still think that these people are deranged,” said Tanguma.  “For example, one religious minister called the mural satanic. Others said that they saw demons.”  

Despite the airport allowing Darlina to have plaques installed explaining the murals, the conspiracies continued. 

Darlina said that while people have the right to interpret art as they would like, it’s important to acknowledge the cruelty behind how these theories unfolded. She said that to overlook the important messages of peace, justice and hope the murals were meant to portray causes harm to more than her family.  

“They’re [the conspiracies] destroying the artwork, too.” explained Darlina. “I’ve met other people that have been so depressed,” she continued, referring to people who feared the conspiracy theories were true.  

Faces of our community 

Family friend of the Tagumas, Cheryl Detwiler Mihaka, also helped create the murals and Taguma says that her talent combined with Darlina’s helped them portay a deep sense of compassion with the murals. 

“Both my daughter and Cheryl had experienced physical violence in relationships, so that also humanized them more. I think that’s one thing that happens,” he shared.  “So, I had not only fantastically talented young women working with me, but also they brought me back to the spirituality of what we were trying to do.” 

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Leticia proudly poses by the mural (image courtesy Leticia Darlina Tanguma)

Tanguma also explained why he wanted the mural to come from the perspective of a child. “I think that there is a certain innocence among the oppressed, among the people that are uneducated, that don’t have access practically, to life.” 

Tanguma was also influenced by his work with youth who had been imprisoned, and others who were high schoolers that he painted alongside. 

“I think that my connection with painting with young people, there’s been that that I’ve seen the possibilities and I’ve seen the destruction,” he summarized. 

The focus of youth seemed to add to the draw of passers-by, who also impacted the direction of the murals. Between 1992 and 1995, Tanguma painted murals in a room in the Lakeside Mall. The combination of large panels and Mexican music drew in curious patrons.  

Word spread of the work in progress, and parents asked for their children to be depicted in “Children of the World Dream of Peace.” Amongst the parents were some who had lost their children and asked Tanguma to memorialize them in the mural.  

One mother asked for a depiction of her son who had recently passed from suicide, another whose daughter was killed while helping her friend escape an abusive situation.  Some had lost their children to gang violence. 

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A clip from a Denver Post feature, mothers emotionally embracing after seeing their children memorialized in the murals.

Also featured in the mural was Tanguma’s young granddaughter and her Denver cousins and classmates, as well as children from around the world such as young activist Samantha Smith, (who passed in a plane crash), or brothers who marched for peace in Afghanistan. And while originally, he hadn’t planned to include political elements, Tanguma said the need to depict the injustices of war became apparent – an issue he was all too familiar with after having served in the military. 

Connecting Colorado to the rest of the world 

While painting the children, Tanguma asked for the families’ countries of origin, and depicted the children in the traditional clothing from each area. Over time, as many as 70 different countries were portrayed. 

“These are fantastic experiences that have to mold you, because you see the beauty of humanity daily, from many, many countries of the world,” he reminisced.

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(Left) Tanguma painting traditional garb from various countries. 

Tanguma hoped that by including each of these countries, the artists could spread a message of peace to places beyond Colorado. 

“I saw that as an opportunity to take the ideas that I have learned in my own community, a community where there is aspiring for greater civil rights and cultural identity, that permitted me to share those ideas with the passers-by from almost any country in the world.” 

A resilient legacy 

Attempts to destroy the artwork of the Tanguma family are not new to them. Leo Tanguma has faced critiques of his work since he was a child in Texas. 

“When I was in the fifth grade in elementary school, I did some drawings on the blackboard about my classmates killing our town Sheriff,” he recalled. “So, I got severely punished for that. But the reason I did that is because the sheriff in our hometown was the killer. He had killed up to that point seven Mexican Americans, including two of my mom’s cousins.” 

Tanguma continued to do artwork portraying both injustice and visions for resolution. He was commissioned for a mural while stationed in Germany, and once again in the 1960s when he was transferred to California. There, he did a mural honoring the Mexican American movement for civil rights.

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(Right)Tanguma painting a depiction of police brutality in Houston, TX. 

Eventually, his artist studio in his hometown of Houston was destroyed in a case of suspected arson. Around this time, his wife, Darlina’s mother, passed away from cancer. The family decided to try to start anew in Denver, where Darlina began her career as an artist while Tanguma continued creating well-known murals in places like the Denver Art Museum. 

“Imagine a person that’s blacklisted in Houston. When I got to Denver, the Denver Art Museum asked me to do a mural inside the museum. What beautiful feelings that I had,” he shared. “But I still kept painting issues. I thought that besides the beautiful city and surroundings that I see, still there remained police brutality, education, women’s liberation, war, all those issues still needed to be addressed.” 

Through it all, Tanguma and his daughter have remained strong in their messages of hope, connected to art, and perhaps most importantly, connected to each other.  

“My daughter has been the most important figure that I’ve ever painted with,” Tanguma shared. “Because not only is she talented, but she’s aware, aware of conditions, aware of our culture and our history.”

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Tanguma proudly displays the endangered Snow Leopard daughter Darlina painted from memory.

And as far as the conspiracies go, they haven’t stopped the Tangumas either.  “It made me more dedicated, I think, because after that I did a number of other murals with social and cultural meaning,” he said. 

Darlina continues to collaborate with community in her artwork both independently and through the Redline Contemporary Art Center’s ‘Reach’ program, and Tanguma is planning a mural with students from East High School. 

“I think rumors like the airport conspiracies and the mural conspiracies, they really seek to destroy the human connection, the human spirit.” Darlina said. “But I want to create artwork that will bring us together.” 

Elle Naef is the multimedia producer at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at ellenaef@rmpbs.org.

Alexis Kikoen is the executive producer at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach her at alexiskikoen@rmpbs.org.

Peter Vo is the journalism intern at Rocky Mountain PBS. You can reach him at petervo@rmpbs.org.

Pasadena Community Foundation Awards $335,000 to 18 Pasadena-area Arts and Culture Nonprofits

By in Art World News

Pasadena Community Foundation Awards $335,000 to 18 Pasadena-area Arts and Culture Nonprofits

Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is proud to announce funding to 18 local nonprofit organizations as part of its inaugural Arts & Culture Grant Program. The recipients range from  emerging to established organizations, and the grants, totaling $335,000, provide flexible support to help each  organization address ongoing challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic. Arts patrons and PCF supporters Terri and  Jerry Kohl augmented PCF’s support with a $100,000 gift, which helped extend funding to additional  organizations. See complete list of grantees on page 2.  

PCF’s funding will help the organizations with post-pandemic adaptations like innovative program delivery, new  audience curation, and organizational changes. Among the projects planned are the creation of literature and  music education programs at several PUSD schools, technology upgrades, the expansion of family-centered and  emerging artists programs, hiring staff for marketing and audience engagement, and exploring works from  traditionally underrepresented playwrights and composers to create new performance opportunities.  

The Arts & Culture Grants are part of a long history of the Foundation’s support for the arts. PCF’s first arts grant  was in 1973, and since that time, with the help of PCF donors and endowment builders, it has awarded more than  500 grants totaling more than $3 million to local arts and cultural organizations. Learn more about PCF’s impact in  the arts.  

Since the onset of the pandemic, PCF has channeled additional resources to local arts organizations. In 2020, PCF  partnered with the City of Pasadena to support its emergency Art & Culture Relief Grant Program. In 2021, the  Foundation disbursed an additional $100,000 in unrestricted funding for arts recovery. 

Those initial efforts led to a “listening tour” in 2022, during which PCF visited 16 nonprofit arts organizations and  arts leaders to learn how the pandemic had created unique and enduring challenges within the sector. These  included a shift in audience demographics, attendance, and expectations; a dramatic rise in operation costs due to  the supply chain and national inflation; and an urgent need to invest in new technologies to support hybrid  programming and more sophisticated multimedia productions. Conversely, the organizations also recognize that  this period offers a great deal of opportunity to strengthen capacity, diversity, and audience support. They are eager to tackle this new reality creatively and will use PCF’s funding to do so. 

PCF President & CEO Jennifer DeVoll notes that PCF’s new grant program responds to similar issues that just led  the Mark Taper Forum to announce its temporary closure. “PCF is terribly saddened by news of the Mark Taper  Forum. We keenly understand that the Forum’s challenges are shared by many arts organizations. We feel that  expanding PCF’s commitment to arts and culture provides recognition of the important role that these organizations play in the vibrancy of our community.”

2023 Arts & Culture Grantee Organizations 

A Noise Within Parson’s Nose Theater 
Armory Center for the Arts Pasadena Conservatory of Music  
Arroyo Repertory Theatre Pasadena Heritage 
Boston Court Pasadena Pasadena Master Chorale 
Harmony Project Pasadena Photography Arts  
Light Bringer Project Pasadena Playhouse 
Los Angeles Children’s Chorus Pasadena Symphony Association 
Mt. Lowe Chamber Players Side Street Projects 
MUSE/IQUE Synchromy 

Founded in 1953, Pasadena Community Foundation (PCF) is a tax-exempt public charity created by and for the people of  Pasadena. Managing more than $140 million in charitable assets, PCF works with individuals, families, and organizations to  establish philanthropic funds, create and build endowment funds, and distribute charitable gifts to nonprofit organizations. In  2022, PCF granted $2.2 million to 116 Pasadena-area nonprofits in six areas of interest.

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