Jane Waggoner Deschner
Artist Statement
Found photographs have been my medium for 20 years; my collection numbers ±70,000, primarily vintage snapshots and studio portraits. My work is to recognize, process and express the quarantine experience. The time it takes me to choose photos and then patiently, reverently hand-stitch them, brings me joy and hope. I’m illustrating our collective narrative. Dr. Clay Routledge states, “…nostalgic reflection makes us more optimistic…it lays out a vision for a hopeful future.” We see our personal truths reflected, through hand-sewn photos, in the lives of others. We’re reminded, in this dangerous time, of our commonalities. We’re more alike than different.
Artist Bio
Jane Waggoner Deschner is a mixed media artist based in Montana. Currrent professional highlights include representing Montana in “Her Flag,” celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment. She was a 2019-20 Montana Arts Council Artist’s Innovation Award recipient. She has been featured on numerous blogs including Humble Arts Foundation “New Photography” (interviewed by vernacular photo collector Robert E. Jackson). She has been awarded artist residencies across the US and in Canada; participation is an important part of her practice. In conjunction with being an artist, she works as an exhibition installer, graphic designer, photographer, instructor, curator and picture framer.
