Anna Rotty enjoys walking in the sunshine, with the wind blowing through her hair and the sun shining overhead. This student is absorbed in her first year of studying a Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in photography at the University of New Mexico.
Rotty stated that I feel the most at ease when I make art and interact with the world in this way. It’s like paying attention, slowing down, and then creating something new.
Rotty works on multiple projects at once, often in series. This allows him to play with nostalgia and memories. Sofia Mendez Subieta a close friend and second-year MFA in photography student, said Rottys pieces defy reality.
Mendez Subieta says that there’s a magic in her work, which makes it very inspiring.
Mendez Subieta mentioned the daily walks Rotty does where she can connect with the space around.
Rotty said that walks are a large part of my practice. I just observe and it feels like meditative state where I can get lost in looking and thinking about what it means to look and see something, and how that affects our minds over time.
Rotty was born in Massachusetts and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. After moving to San Francisco in 2013, Rotty came to Albuquerque in last year’s school year. She was able to find a supportive community, including associate photographer Meggan Guld, Jenny Miller, Subieta Mendez, and Jenny Miller, third-year grad students.
California saw the wildfires and a lot of Rottys art has shifted to climate change.
Rotty stated that the moment I saw the sky turn bright orange made me realize how dire the situation was.
Rotty is currently focusing on two series: TerraThese are landscapes that use light and reflective materials to create constructive environments. Solastalgia, which makes a lot more connections between the images that I see and make here. Then I compare it to places where Ive lived before, and think about how we understand that place and what our connection to it.
According to Shirin Makaremi (California gallery director), Terra started before the pandemic. However, Rotty was able create a feeling of being outside even though she was in lockdown. Rotty makes the most of what she has, which pushes boundaries and creates a new way of looking at subjects.
Rotty is now doing new research by interviewing people about their job. Recently, she was with her father to talk about his job at an energy company to learn more about the relationship between the environment and the job. Rotty has also been studying how our family history affects how we perceive our place in the world.
Rotty describes herself as a people person. She said that art can be used to open dialogues with people and create community.
I think half of it might be making stuff for me, but the other half is engaging in conversation with other people and watching their work. It is why I love this grad program. Being fully immersed in it is something that I have never been able too and it feels like a gift to have the time and space to be there. Rotty said that I am very grateful to be doing it right now.
Rotty is currently teaching Introduction to Photography at UNM. She has enjoyed teaching students who have been exposed to photography and those who haven’t. Rotty hopes to continue teaching college-level photography in the future.
It’s part of my job, but it feeds my thinking about art and photography. Rotty said that teaching is a great aspect of it.
MendezSubieta is excited to see Rotty, who she described in her first year of teaching as reliable, responsible, and generous. Makaremi stated that Rotty is a strong supporter and encourager of her community’s growth.
She is willing to help others from a place where she feels genuine kindness, which I believe is very sincere. Mendez Subieta explained that this is something that stood out to me right from the beginning.
Rottys Series Phosphene was recognized by the Denis Roussel Award2020
Rottys work will appear in the spring exhibition Not Yet and Yet hosted March 11 by the UNM Graduate Art Association. Rotty also mentioned that the John Sommers Gallery will host a juried undergraduate exhibition from March 11 through March 17. She was particularly impressed by the work of Nora Vanesky and Gerald Lovato.
Rotty said that I would love it if I could continue to make art.
Megan Gleason serves as the Editor-in Chief of the Daily Lobo. You can reach her at [email protected]Follow @fabflutist2716 on Twitter