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INTERVIEW ON ANTIDOTE, THE MAINE MUSEUM OF PHOTOGRAPH

March 19, 2021 dawn surratt

We are so honored to be featured on Antidote, the Maine Museum of Photography’s newsletter. Deep thanks to Deb Dawson for her support of our project.

TOUCHSTONES

Two women, one road, two thousand miles and less than a minute.

The transcendent collaboration between Sal Taylor Kydd and Dawn Surratt

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What We Know

Knowledge, is a stubborn thing,
it holds fast in the shadows
and even, as perspective shifts,
still shimmers in the witchy light
of falsehood.

Stories buried deep, are told
in the lore of a family’s choosing,
a narrative thread,
from mother to daughter,
then daughter to child,
writ large upon a lifetime.

In stony ground we grow slant.
Even the most tender,
emerging with such vigor,
devoid of sunlight,
will wilt, turn sallow.

Illumination then.
I’ll hold those roots, but
seek the sun,
unfaltering in my telling.

I’ll lay my secrets in the grass,
like a bird drying its wings
after the rain.

Connection through isolation… Photographers, of all species seem to always find a way. When there’s that spark of creativity through common interests and ideas, it can transcend boundaries and leap thousands of miles to make something truly special happen. The long thin ribbon of Route 1 connects Maine artist, Sal Taylor Kydd and Dawn Surratt of North Carolina. Sal and Dawn share how their collaborative project, Touchstones came to be and how it continues to foster their creativity and friendship through a difficult and isolating year. You can witness this journey of collaboration through their blog, touch-stones.
- Deb Dawson

DD: How did you meet?

We were aware of each other’s work through Instagram as well as mutual friends, and we finally had the opportunity to meet and work together during the Kindred show in Savannah in 2019. We instantly felt a connection and talked during that time about collaborating on a project to stay connected to each other. A few months later, the pandemic hit and the idea of our project crystallized. It has been an important lifeline for us both as we sort out all the difficult feelings that have arisen during this past year.

DD. Your bodies of work are so complementary to one another. What do you find most compelling about the other’s work?

Dawn: I adore Sal’s incorporation of the mystery of everyday life. It’s very lyrical and feminine and it speaks to the deepest parts of us. Her use of light is superb. When I look at Sal’s work, I know exactly what is meaningful to her. She is so pure in her intention through her art.

Sal: I find Dawn’s work to be effortlessly tender and true, she doesn’t hold back in being authentic about the issues she is exploring through her art practice. I’ve also been fortunate to learn so much from Dawn, she is always pushing the boundaries in developing new mediums in which to present her work, through her object-making and books.

DD: How did the project begin and has it evolved in any unexpected ways?

Dawn: When we began, we knew we wanted to use both text and imagery. Sal is a masterful writer and it’s something that I was interested in challenging myself with and I knew I would learn a lot from Sal which I have. She is so generous and wise in her abilities to guide me through writing roadblocks when I have them and I have had quite a few.

Sal: I think the blog format allowed us to note down impressions in a way that didn’t feel too precious. It has allowed us to experiment and allow the project to develop at its own pace. Recently we have loosened up the format even more, introducing fragments and more impressionistic writing that express that sense of suspension and timelessness we have all been feeling during this strange moment of time.

DD: Can you describe your process of creation in this call and response scenario?

We each take turns sending the other a new photograph every week or so, the other person then pairs it with an image of their own and writes something to accompany the diptych. We are always looking for the writing to amplify the imagery, avoiding it being too illustrative. The images should always be able to stand alone, the imagery is where the inspiration lies.

DD: Do you think this visual communication will inform and affect your future work?

Sal: I always find the nature of collaboration to be very rewarding. Feeling part of a community of artists has always fed my work and my practice, inspiring me creatively and motivating me too. I have always loved using text and images together in my work and definitely see that continuing.

Dawn: This project has further cemented my love of both collaboration and the use of text and image and I see how the things I have learned from this project have already begun to shape my work in new ways. I am a better artist when I have the opportunity to learn from my peers and people that inspire me and Sal has certainly been that. Plus, I’ve made a lifelong friend. What a gift.

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A Small Moment Noticed

Light and shadows dance across the back of
my tightly closed eyelids
warmed by the sun;
mesmerized by their dancing patterns,
my body feels alive and I am reverent
in this small moment noticed
as the world roars by.

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Sal Taylor Kydd + Dawn Surratt, Uncomfortable, 2020

POWERED BY SQ