29 Dec Roberta C. Scott: Artist Member of the Month
Every month, we're proud to show off an ACP Member-Artist. This month, enjoy getting to know photographer Roberta C. Scott.
Tell us about yourself and your art!
I was born and raised in Jersey City, NJ and have been photographing and exhibiting my work for approximately 40 yrs. During this time, I have had many one-woman exhibits, published in Garden Magazine and was featured on Channel 8 for my nature photographs. In 2002 my image titled, “Ghost of 9/11 Past” was selected for the international juried exhibit at the Soho Photo Gallery, NYC in memory of the attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001.
I graduated from the University of Idaho with a B.A. in Theatre Arts, earned a Secondary Teaching credential and taught high school media and communication, film, literature and directed school plays in California. I attended workshops at the University of California’s Berkeley Extension school in media and photography. Upon moving back to New Jersey I conducted photography workshops for community based organizations and taught photography for 5 years with the “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” program for the NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife. Currently, I work part-time at the Fleetwood Museum of Art & Photography, North Plainfield, NJ.
How did you become an artist?
As a young child I had a Kodak Brownie Hawkeye camera. I took black and white photos of my friends and was astonished at the results. Of course, these images were average at best, but I thought they were magic. I also, played crime photographer after watching “Crime Photographer” on TV. My father helped me find stories in the Jersey City newspapers. I kept file cards and stamped the cards “floating down the river” when I couldn’t solve the crime. While it was considered a cute child’s game at the time, in reality women in those days were not encouraged to develop that kind of career choice, so eventually I put the camera behind me. As life changed, who knew I would one day return to my first love—photography.
What inspires your artwork?
Nature has always called to me. I was the city kid with a country heart. Therefore, many of my images over the years reflect nature-related images. I am a member of the New Jersey Audubon and The Nature Conservancy. I have been a volunteer at both organizations and have taken photos at each site. My credo is: “Beauty lies in your own backyard.”
What is inspiring you personally these days?
Given today’s seemingly divided political climate, I am creating exhibits of my photographs in combination with poems by both famous and local poets to better interpret our changing world. I believe poets to be the bellwethers who can best lead us to the truth and to potential healing.
Who are some of your favorite artists?
I admire many men and women of all creative mediums. History informs us though that many women artists in comparison to their male counterpart have flown under the radar and have not been given the recognition they deserve. I can’t help thinking of two photographers; Imogene Cunningham, deceased at 93, was a member of the well-known California-based Group f64. It took her a substantially longer time than the male members of this group to be recognized as an important contributor. I also think of Margaret Bourke-White an accomplished photographer whose image appeared on the first cover of Life Magazine, was still not talked about or known by anyone including many photographers. As of 2022, she is a member of the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Lastly, I have always admired Gordon Parks for his photography and for his overall creative talents. The true infinitesimal Renaissance man!
In summation—Quite a few years ago I attended an opening exhibit of Evelyn Wilson’s sculptures based on Chaucer’s characters. Her work was to be archived at Rutgers University. I shared with her how much I envied her accomplishment. She simply smiled, tapped me gently on the shoulder and said, “just do your work.” I have been humbly doing just that since.
Where can folks see more of your work?
I invite everyone to my website at: robertacscottphoto.wixsite.com/photo
Also, all are invited to my exhibit titled, Nature is…..Poetry at the New Jersey Audubon, Scherman Hoffman Wildlife Sanctuary, Bernardsville, NJ.