©Polly Chandler, All You Left Me Was A Feather On An Unmade Bed

Before I ever had the opportunity to meet Polly Chandler in person, I was collecting her work. It touched me in a way that felt very personal, very revealing. I knew when I discovered her that there was something very special about this artist. I got the feeling her entire life was revealed in her images.

A few years later, she left Austin, Texas to move to Nashville where she coincidentally began teaching photography at the same place I teach.

I had Polly speak about her work to a group I lead. Her presentation was a fascinating time of sharing her work and baring her soul unlike any artist had ever done in that setting. The 150+ attendees still speak about that evening. Some of the images she shared were her interpretations of the music of Tom Waits.

Polly Chandler grew up in Southern Illinois and graduated with an MFA in photography from Southern Illinois University. She has exhibited her work nationally, and her photographs have been published in magazines such as Photo District News, American Photo, and B&W Magazine.

About her body of work, she says: “There are those occurrences that sit with us and settle into who we are. Some are more forceful than others. I am seeking to explore those identifiable instances that seem to slow time, and through my photographs, share the understanding of these moments.”

You Build It Up, You Wreck It Down

In this body of work is a collection of narratives based on my personal interpretations of the music and lyrics by the singer-songwriter, Tom Waits. Over the past many years, I have endeavored on a project that filters and renders my experiences, emotions and quest for purpose, through my understanding of his music. It is often simply a single line from a song that will spark an idea.

The images are perhaps my interpretation of the essence of the song, and how it represents an experience in my life. All images were photographed with a large format 4X5 inch camera, using the now discontinued Polaroid Type 55. No digital manipulation was used.

©Polly Chandler, Along An Icy Pond

©Polly Chandler, And Its Time Time Time That You Love

©Polly Chandler, I Hide On The Stairwell and I Sleep In Your Hat

©Polly Chandler, I’m Going To Take The Sins Of My Father To The River

©Polly Chandler, Lay Your Head Where My Heart Used To Be

©Polly Chandler, Like A Boy Who Captures A Firefly Only To Let It Die

©Polly Chandler, Make It Rain

©Polly Chandler, Take Back These Wings

©Polly Chandler, The House Where Nobody Lives

©Polly Chandler, The Mischievous Braingels

©Polly Chandler, There Are Things I’ve Done I Cant Erase

©Polly Chandler, Theres A Man With A Lantern And He Carries Her Soul

©Polly Chandler, Theres Nothing Here For Me In This World Full Of Strangers

©Polly Chandler, We All Want To Know The Same Thing

©Polly Chandler, What He Done You Cant Give It A Name

©Polly Chandler, Whats He Building In There

©Polly Chandler, Why Did I Leave All This Madness In The Nightstand Drawer

©Polly Chandler, You Dreamed Me Up And Left Me Here

©Polly Chandler, Youre The Key That Got Lost