Maria Montano is this week’s featured artist.
Medium(s) you work in:
Photography.
How would you describe your art?
My photography is about two things – the first is trying to share with the world how I observe the world. The second is about social justice – using my skill with the camera to raise awareness about issues that I am passionate about – be it conservation causes or sexual assault.
What artist(s) living or dead inspire you? Why?
Edward Weston – simply wonderful. I can’t think of a single photographer today who isn’t influenced by his body of work. Cole Thompson – a fantastic modern black and white photographer who has really pushed the art of photography forward. Mark James – he still shoots pin hole photos – but the way he is able to produce a print that will take your breath away is amazing! Brendan Dorrler – A fantastic photographer who I credit with teaching me just about everything I know about how to use a camera.
What are your thoughts on selling art?
The selling of my work has been a big challenge to me. I enjoy the process of marketing my work – and finding new ways to bring attention to what it is that I am doing. Something that I have recently started doing is working with local non-profit agencies and committing a portion of my sales to them. They in turn promote me to their supporters – I grow my e-newsletter list and make some sales – while they get a percentage for each sale that they help me make. I have also really enjoyed social networking – it has given me the ability to reach far more people than I would – and I have “fans” of my work all over the country now! I think one of the keys to my success in making sales has been to offer prints in a variety of price ranges – I offer some as low as $19.50 all the way up to $500.00 – find a way to get something that fits everyone’s budget!
What is the biggest challenge you are currently facing as an artist?
What has been the biggest victory or success in your art career?
The biggest success I have had has been with my work with survivors of sexual assault. Over the past 5 years I have worked with a local rape crisis center taking portraits – and telling the stories of survivors – and each April we put on an exhibition (http://mariamontano.blogspot.com/2010/04/faces-project.html) that is truly powerful and inspiring. The work I do with these wonderful women and men is more valuable to me than any gallery representation or art competition.
What are your short term artistic goals? And what are your long term goals?
Short term I would like to see myself making more sales. I am confident that all the work I have been putting in over the past couple of years building up my mailing lists and social networking will pay off once the economy rebounds. Long term I would like to see me continue to grow – I’m really excited about my “found objects” series that I am working on.
Anything else you would like to share?
This summer I was asked to be a guest lecturer at the Colorado Arts Institute for a documentary photography class – I’m really looking forward to that!
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Wonderful work by an amazing young photographer. I have one of Maria’s gallery-wrapped canvas prints of an old New Mexico church hanging in my office.