Wendy Ewald

Wendy Ewald has been contributing to collaborative photography for over 40 years.  Wendy is of particular interest to me because she does much of her collaborating with children.

Fig. 1: Ewald 2005. American Alphabet.

In an interview with Anthony Luvera, published by Photoworks Annual in 2013, Wendy goes into detail more about her thoughts and processes:

Wendy got her first taste for education when her brother was hit by a car at 5 years old.  She and her sister were engaged in his rehabilitation process and she sometimes innovated practices that helped him beyond what the adults were instructing.

She started her educational career with education in mind, but couldn't get away from her pull to photography, although her talent in the field of education and her interest in human development remained alive and active.

Ewald was influence by education researchers such as Vivian Paley's work with how children use storytelling as a form of socialization.  Also of interest was Lucy Calkins who found that children draw and draw as a form of communication. She used these ideas to direct her work.  (The bold is added for personal reference so I can research these ideas further as I feel they are also directly applicable to my own project.)

Also emphasized is that the process is directly intertwined with the product, and with as much aesthetic involved.  By creating something together there are layers there that wouldn't exist otherwise.

She mentions some mistakes she has learned along the way, some cultural errors that occurred, such as communities that don't welcome people toting cameras.  But everywhere she goes she tries to leave resources behind (Ewald and Luvera 2013).

Ewald collaborates with children.  She shares process of visually representing their lives and cultures with the children themselves.  Their 'social reality,' (Hyde 2005).

"In describing her artistic approach, Wendy Ewald has said "it doesn't interest me to put a frame around somebody's world... it interests me to help bring pictures out of that world." -(Woolcock cited in Hyde 2005).

Her roles of teacher and artist blend as she intentionally creates "Situations in which I allowed others perceptions to surface with my own," (Ewald cited in Hyde 2005).

She challenges the children to find their own solutions.  She calls her work "Literacy Through Photography," and sees it fitting neatly within the standard curriculum skills of reading, writing, visual media and critical thinking (Hyde 2005).


Much of the methodology and pedagogy Ewald uses may be helpful in my upcoming project work.  I just ordered a copy of her book and I am excited to explore it once it arrives!

Figure 1. Wendy EWALD. 2005. American Alphabet.  Available at: https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.byui.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=6f9a6a9c-61ea-490b-af19-450089f288f3%40pdc-v-sessmgr02  [accessed June 29 2019]


EWALD, Wendy and Anthony LUVERA. 2013. 'Tools for Sharing: Wendy Ewald in conversation with Anthony Luvera.' Photoworks Annual.  Issue 20, p48-59. Available at:  https://eds-b-ebscohost-com.byui.idm.oclc.org/eds/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=2&sid=6f9a6a9c-61ea-490b-af19-450089f288f3%40pdc-v-sessmgr02 [accessed June 29 2019]

HYDE, Katherine. 2005. 'Portraits and Collaborations: a reflection on the work of Wendy Ewald.' Visual Studies. 20 (172-190). [online] Available at: http://web.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.falmouth.ac.uk/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=26747df7-d5ec-44a2-ae16-5c8ad58661db%40sessionmgr102&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=18363714&db=sih [accessed July 2019]