2008 Woodie Awards
A conversation with the artist behind 'Girl of My Dreams'
Erin Shea
Issue date: 2/12/08 Section: Entertainment
02/12/08 - Stacy Renee Morrison, the artist behind the photography display, "Girl of My Dreams," was here at the University of Rhode Island this past Wednesday to explain the motivations behind her work.
The display was inspired by the contents of a trunk owned by Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander, of the DeWolf family of Bristol, R.I.
"The more time I spent with [the trunk], the more I needed to know [the story]. My role became more of a detective," said Morrison. "I wanted to know her."
So Morrison embarked on an exhaustive study of Ostrander and her family. Morrison has now accomplished her goal, saying that she has gotten a good grasp on what Ostrander's life was like.
There are several pictures in the exhibit that are based on Morrison's interpretations of Ostrander's life, in which she stands in place of Ostrander- but Morrison has gotten so deeply involved in her life that Morrison doesn't even believe the woman in the pictures is her.
"I don't consider these self-portraits. I really somehow believe that I'm Sylvia so you just have to humor me," she said. "What I love about this project is this idea of blurring the boundaries of time and sort of becoming this woman," said Morrison.
She said the experience has changed her.
"This project and Sylvia ... has sort of given me this audacity that I normally wouldn't possess ... Just knowing that I have to do this for Sylvia, that I am responsible for her life, I'm like, 'No matter what, I'm going to keep researching and not give up,'" Morrison said.
Although she's now quite knowledgeable about Ostrander's life, she's hardly done with her research.
"I'd like to explore the relationship with her father more, you know, what happened in their relationship that made it go so sour where she didn't even speak to him," Morrison said.
She also said she'd like do more research on the life of Joseph "Jud" Dimmick, a cousin of Sylvia's who died in the Civil War and who Morrison believes was Sylvia's "true love."
"Girl of My Dreams" is about more than just Ostrander's life though, said Morrison.
"[There's] this idea of giving something another life. And not just about her life, but about this box that was found in the garbage, disposed of and, sort of not giving up on it," she said.
The display is being shown in the Fine Arts Center's Photography Gallery until March 16. Morrison is hopeful that "Girl of My Dreams" will pique the viewers' interest in Ostrander's life, saying, "I don't want to spell everything out. I want people to be curious. I want people to think their own thoughts about this woman."
The display was inspired by the contents of a trunk owned by Sylvia DeWolf Ostrander, of the DeWolf family of Bristol, R.I.
"The more time I spent with [the trunk], the more I needed to know [the story]. My role became more of a detective," said Morrison. "I wanted to know her."
So Morrison embarked on an exhaustive study of Ostrander and her family. Morrison has now accomplished her goal, saying that she has gotten a good grasp on what Ostrander's life was like.
There are several pictures in the exhibit that are based on Morrison's interpretations of Ostrander's life, in which she stands in place of Ostrander- but Morrison has gotten so deeply involved in her life that Morrison doesn't even believe the woman in the pictures is her.
"I don't consider these self-portraits. I really somehow believe that I'm Sylvia so you just have to humor me," she said. "What I love about this project is this idea of blurring the boundaries of time and sort of becoming this woman," said Morrison.
She said the experience has changed her.
"This project and Sylvia ... has sort of given me this audacity that I normally wouldn't possess ... Just knowing that I have to do this for Sylvia, that I am responsible for her life, I'm like, 'No matter what, I'm going to keep researching and not give up,'" Morrison said.
Although she's now quite knowledgeable about Ostrander's life, she's hardly done with her research.
"I'd like to explore the relationship with her father more, you know, what happened in their relationship that made it go so sour where she didn't even speak to him," Morrison said.
She also said she'd like do more research on the life of Joseph "Jud" Dimmick, a cousin of Sylvia's who died in the Civil War and who Morrison believes was Sylvia's "true love."
"Girl of My Dreams" is about more than just Ostrander's life though, said Morrison.
"[There's] this idea of giving something another life. And not just about her life, but about this box that was found in the garbage, disposed of and, sort of not giving up on it," she said.
The display is being shown in the Fine Arts Center's Photography Gallery until March 16. Morrison is hopeful that "Girl of My Dreams" will pique the viewers' interest in Ostrander's life, saying, "I don't want to spell everything out. I want people to be curious. I want people to think their own thoughts about this woman."