The fabulous Amy Holmes George ©Amanda Grieser

I’ve been a member of the Texas Photographic Society for about a dozen years–they have supported my journey with exhibition opportunities, print sales, and sharing my photo news through their various online and printed outlets. Being part of the TPS community allows me to discover other photographers, show work in new arenas, and feel part of something larger.

Since 1993, the organization was spearheaded by D. Clarke Evans out of San Antonio, but in 2013, Amy Holmes George was elected Board President and later transitioned to Executive Director in 2016. Amy has worked hard to follow in the 30-year legacy of TPS, an organization that supports and promotes photographers.  She brings a fresh and dedicated energy to the job, always considering new ideas and new ways to support the members.

Because TPS does not have a brick and mortar space, the faces behind this organization are not always front and center. So today we change that as we celebrate The Amy Holmes George Mixtape!

Amy Holmes George is Executive Director of the Texas Photographic Society and a fine art photographer residing near Dallas, Texas. As a former tenured professor from Stephen F. Austin State University, she has also held teaching appointments at Collin College, Baylor University, and University of North Texas. Exhibited widely throughout the United States as well as in Italy, England, France, and China, Amy’s work has been featured in over 100 exhibitions and is housed in several permanent collections, including The Getty, The Kinsey Institute, and the Fratelli Alinari Museum. Her images have been published in a variety of texts, such as The Book of Alternative Photographic Processes (Christopher James, 2015) and Exploring Color Photography: From Film to Pixels (Robert Hirsch, 2010). Amy is a recent member of the National Board of Directors of the Society for Photographic Education and a 2008 Fulbright grant recipient.

Tell us about your growing up and what brought you to photography.

I was born and raised in a small town in Ohio, the heart of the Midwest. I came to recognize my love for art at a very young age. I was a doodler, constantly drawing. I remember a stack, literally a foot high, of coloring books at my grandparent’s home that I would use to trace and recreate cartoon characters. I tried to copy everything and drew with whatever I could find. I’m told that, in one instance, I used my grandmother’s lipstick and nail polish as my “paint” and my body and crib as a “canvas.” So, I guess you could say that I was born with a passion for making art.

Amy’s Preschool Portrait

Art was everything to me, and my teachers noticed. I actually won a school-wide poster contest in kindergarten and was awarded a trophy. That was when I proclaimed that I wanted to be an artist when I grew up. During elementary school, I kept notebooks (sure wish I had them now!). I drew regularly and practiced my penmanship and eventually crafted short illustrated stories. Art propelled me all the way through high school, providing a creative outlet on many different levels. It granted me a space to think and actively exercise my imagination.

Amy, age 5, with her trophy from the kindergarten poster contest

Amy’s drawing from the poster contest; the theme was “Safety”

When I began college at Miami University in Ohio, I was prepared to be an illustrator—a medical illustrator to be precise, with a double major in art and science. By my sophomore year, I had discovered photography. More importantly, I discovered that photography could be art; my academic plans quickly changed course. I fell in love with the darkroom experience and all the science behind film and print development. Ultimately, I graduated with a BFA double-concentration in photo and graphic design. Later, I pursued my MFA in photography at Clemson University in South Carolina, with a special emphasis in alternative processes.

Portrait from Amy’s first photography class, when she discovered the art of photography

Amy (bottom right) pictured with her college photography professor Jon Yamashiro and fellow photo students Jen (top right) and Ann (bottom left) at their senior BFA exit exhibition at Miami University

During graduate school, Amy spent most of her weekends hiking and photographing in the beautiful South Carolina landscape ©courtesy of Sam Wang

Amy and her husband Andrew at her MFA thesis exhibition at Clemson University. High school sweethearts, Andrew has always been Amy’s biggest advocate, buying her first SLR camera when she graduated from high school and later an enlarger when she graduated from college

In both my undergraduate and graduate programs, I was fortunate to have professors who made a significant and meaningful impact on my creative vision—Jon Yamashiro (Miami University) and Sam Wang (Clemson University). I greatly admire their level of commitment, passion, humility, and success in the field. It is because of their lasting influence in my life that I was inspired to become a teacher myself. As such, I have maintained contact with each over the years.

Jon Yamashiro photographing himself with Amy’s print included in the Department of Art Faculty & Alumni Exhibition at the Miami University Art Museum in Oxford, Ohio, during fall 2017

Amy with her graduate mentor Sam Wang at a national conference for the Society for Photographic Education

What is your title and job description and tell us about a typical day?

I’m the Executive Director of Texas Photographic Society (TPS), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, based near Dallas, Texas. TPS was founded in 1984 and has been providing a wide variety of programs and services for photographers and their audiences across the country ever since. I’ve been involved with TPS since 2001, joining the Board in 2005. In 2010, I was appointed Vice President of the Board. During the fall of 2013, I was elected Board President and later transitioned to Executive Director in 2016. This will be my fifth year serving in an official leadership capacity. I followed in the steps of the amazing D. Clarke Evans who fearlessly led TPS for twenty-two years and laid the foundation for the future of the organization.

I work with an incredible, dynamic Board of Directors to collectively lead the organization. Together, we initiate and facilitate TPS programming, while also developing new benefits and opportunities for our members. We also look to the esteemed group that comprises the TPS Councils for guidance and advice. I feel blessed to work with such a supportive network and truly value all the enriching relationships that TPS has gifted me over the years.

There is really nothing typical about my daily routine, which I fully appreciate. No monotony here! Every day brings a new challenge, every week a new project. Check an item off my list, and there are three things to replace it. After having taught at the collegiate level for nearly fifteen years, I still find that a regular change in routine is a welcome one. During the course of an average day, I address a variety of correspondence and administrative duties as well as prepare materials for forthcoming events and our print/online publications. The position demands a medley of skill sets, and every day is an eventful day.

Amy with exhibiting artists at the 29th Annual Members’ Only Show opening reception, installed at the San Antonio Central Public Library in San Antonio, Texas (pictured left to right: Robert Moore, Coco Martin, Ibai Rigby, Robin Carter, Amy McMurry, Amy Holmes George, Beckey Zajicek, Steve Knight, Norchel Maye Camacho, and Ashley St.Clair)

Amy with Juror Sam Abell at reception for the Composed show at PhotoPlace Gallery, Middlebury, Vermont ©courtesy of James Barker

What are some of your proudest achievements?

Becoming a mother and receiving a Fulbright Scholar Research Grant—which literally happened at the same time—remain two of my most rewarding and life-changing moments. Ultimately, it proved to be a liberating time in my life. As a new mother with a six-month-old in tow, I relocated to Italy for four months to pursue a long envisioned re-photographic project based on the Fratelli Alinari Archives in Florence. It was deeply challenging to manage an infant alongside such a time-intensive project, but it made me stronger. And while I never entertained the idea of leaving my son for four months to complete the project, I did consider declining the grant in order to remain with him. However, I knew that if I didn’t accept the grant, I would spend the rest of my life wondering why I didn’t try.

©Fratelli Alinari, ©Amy Holmes George

©Fratelli Alinari, ©Amy Holmes George

©Fratelli Alinari, ©Amy Holmes George

©Fratelli Alinari, ©Amy Holmes George

©Fratelli Alinari, ©Amy Holmes George

How do you balance making personal work and running an organization that celebrates other photographers?

Well, at the moment, I have to admit that my personal work has taken a backseat. I still find myself making “sketches”, taking notes, and creating photographs for images that will be realized in the future; however, I’m not actively producing new work right now. That said, I do find it immensely gratifying to envision and organize new TPS programming, jury the work of others, discover inspiration through the many talents of our membership, and tap into the brilliance of the TPS community.

Amy presenting photographer Mike Mezeul II (TPS 2017 Print Program artist) as part of the Artist Lecture Series held in collaboration with Dallas Center for Photography ©courtesy of Peter Poulides

What are you working on now and do you find yourself drawn to similar themes and subjects?

I have always been compelled by figurative imagery that is narrative in nature, and I’m especially attracted to alternative photographic processes and mixed media work. My most recent project, Awakening to Motherhood, contemplates my experiences as a mother of two, with all its wonders and woes. Learning to embrace the beautiful chaos of parenting isn’t an easy feat. This body of work ponders the everyday sense of hilarity, absurdity, uncertainty, and emotional overwhelm and also pushes the boundaries of the idyllic family model. In response to this life metamorphosis, I assumed an intuitive, creative, collaborative relationship with my young son and daughter. I sought inspiration directly from my interactions with or observations of my children, often appropriating their artwork. Through the lens of an artist-mother, I offer these images as an honest expression of the exhilarating yet exhausting journey through parenthood.

©Amy Holmes George, Laundry Day, Ziatype

©Amy Holmes George, Learning to Let Go of Sophie, Ziatype

©Amy Holmes George, Not Just a Box, Ziatype

©Amy Holmes George, Pumped Out, Ziatype

©Amy Holmes George, Tub Time, Ziatype

What is something unexpected that we don’t know about you?

Hmmm, I can’t think of a fun, unexpected quirk to reveal here. Although, I am a proud lefty! And, I can say that I absolutely love scary movies (which has baffled my parents for years). Also, I’m the “handy (wo-)man” in our house, because I thoroughly enjoy construction projects, repair work, painting—you name it (needless to say, my other half does not!). So, maybe it won’t come as a shock to learn that my favorite newfound activity is CrossFit, where I can flip tractor tires and swing sledgehammers.

On a side note, my family has a natural affinity for travel and adventure. With that in mind, we recently declared a family “mission” to visit all 48 contiguous states together. Whether it is Geocaching in New Mexico, hiking in California, or skiing in Colorado (which was our latest family getaway), we all take great pleasure in discovering new things together.

Amy with her husband and two children on the slopes of Colorado

And since this is a Mixtape, what is your favorite song, band, and do you dance?

My all-time favorite band is the Beatles. While I’m a classic rock girl at heart, I listen to a wide range of music—from Adele to Cold Play, Pink Floyd to Depeche Mode….

Since I dance like I have two left legs, I always enjoyed “busting a move” most when I had a darkroom, where I could sing and dance without an audience. So, it is probably not so surprising that my favorite dance partners are my children, because they are still too young to pass judgement!

And now we turn the headphones and the mic over to Amy:

First, I want to thank you Aline for this unique opportunity to be a part of your revered Mixtape community! What a special honor.

I am super proud to be a part of all that Texas Photographic Society (TPS) has accomplished recently. Over the past five years, TPS has overhauled its website to offer new features and capabilities, redesigned its quarterly newsletter and monthly e-zine, revived and enhanced its social media presence, and refreshed its brand identity. During that time, we hosted eighteen juried competitions and one curated group members’ show, exhibiting at eighteen different venues, including fourteen Texas cities around the state. We even traveled a selection of work from our last Alternative Processes Competition to Liverpool, England, where it was installed in conjunction with LOOK: Liverpool International Photography Festival.

Since TPS is not a brick and mortar organization, much of what we do is made possible through partnerships with other photography institutions, allowing us to build community across the great state of Texas and beyond. In 2015, TPS proudly initiated an Artist Lecture Series in collaboration with Dallas Center for Photography and has since co-hosted ten public presentations highlighting North Texas artists on a range of compelling topics in fine art, commercial, and documentary photography.

Last year proved to be a particularly lively and productive year. So, I will draw your attention to just a few of the many wonderful things that transpired during 2017. For the first time, TPS co-sponsored a call for entry in coordination with PhotoPlace Gallery in Middlebury, Vermont, where the show was installed. The call, titled Composed, was juried by Sam Abell and opened in February 2017. The work was simply stellar and truly international in scope.

Juror Sam Abell presenting a gallery talk for the Composed exhibition, installed at PhotoPlace Gallery in Middlebury, Vermont

Our annual International Competition commemorated its 26th year. Juried by Alison Nordström, TPS 26: The International Competition opened with a fantastic display of fifty prints by forty artists at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, during summer 2017. TPS 26 has been traveling since, visiting three other venues around Texas.

TPS 26: The International Competition, installed at the J. Wayne Stark Galleries at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas

Our Members’ Only Show, juried by Malcolm Daniel, celebrated its 30th anniversary and highlighted the work of thirty TPS members from across the country. This special exhibition hung at The Silos at Sawyer Yards in Houston, Texas, September through October 2017, garnering exceptional attention even in the wake of Hurricane Harvey.

30th Anniversary Members’ Only Show, installed at The Silos at Sawyer Yards in Houston, Texas

30th Anniversary Members’ Only Show exhibiting artists at the opening reception (pictured left to right: Robert Herman, Steve Knight, Beverly Conley, Ashton Thornhill, Thomas Foster, Ann Clark, Malcolm Daniel [Juror], Holly Moore, Lisa Harris, Tracy Lynch, Susan Hanson, Steve Fisher, Mabry Campbell, Michael Marvins, and Eleanor M. Brown)

With great anticipation, we launched a new biennial National Photography Award, granting two artists—Laura Bennett and Tarrah Krajnak—a $1,000 cash prize and solo exhibitions during FotoFest 2018. Juried by Martina Lopez and Andrew Kensett, the shows are scheduled to open with a reception on March 23, 2018, from 5:30–7:30pm at the Red Maple Gallery Houston, Texas. Bennett and Krajnak will deliver separate gallery talks starting at 6:00pm. A solo exhibition of each artist’s work will be on view March 10 through April 22, 2018. Make plans to join us for the opening!

Krajnak’s show, titled Sismos79 (derived from the Spanish word for “earthquake”), is a long-term project that examines the particular sites of intersection between her life and the turbulent period in the history of Lima, Peru, circa 1979. This work will travel to Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (LHUCA) in Lubbock, Texas, hanging September 7 through October 27, 2018.

TPS National Photography Award joint recipient, Tarrah Krajnak; image titled Lima Infestada

Dames of Anatomy, Bennett’s exhibition, will feature both platinum/palladium and archival pigment prints from her ongoing project which addresses the complexities of the female condition and challenges cultural norms. Her show will also appear at LHUCA from November 2 through December 22, 2018.

TPS National Photography Award joint recipient, Laura Bennett; image titled Aura of Love

Additionally, we hosted our first-ever Drone & Aerial Photography competition, juried by Randy Jay Braun. We were delighted to attract artists from around the globe and accompany this online gallery of the juror’s “top 25” images with a fun drone tutorial and test flight workshop directed by YUNEEC.

Drone test flight workshop, instructed by YUNEEC in Frisco, Texas

Our current exhibition, #tpsNewVisions: A Student Show, juried by Kenda North, was established to target the latest generation of talent in photography. This stunning exhibition of work by emerging artists opened January 20, 2018, at Tammy Cromer Gallery in Dallas, Texas, boasting an incredible turnout (nineteen of the thirty-seven student artists and nearly one hundred people total were in attendance for the opening reception). Congratulations students! #tpsNewVisions will remain on display through March 31, 2018. Be sure to visit this show before it concludes! Also, for every exhibition, TPS designs a full-color catalog to showcase and promote the artists’ work. Check out some of our publications, including the #tpsNewVisions catalog, here.

Juror Kenda North presenting the awards at #tpsNewVisions: A Student Show, installed at Tammy Cromer Gallery in Dallas, Texas

During fall 2017, we debuted a TPS Member Print Share & Social, held at Dallas Center for Photography, offering a casual setting for our members to share their photographic work and preview the talent of fellow TPS artists in the region. The event was free and open to the public and included tasty refreshments, great door prizes, and loads of creative inspiration.

TPS Member Print Share & Social, hosted at Dallas Center for Photography in Dallas, Texas

But wait, there’s more!

Check out our current call, TPS 27: The International Competition, juried by Kate Breakey, which is accepting submissions through February 26, 2018. And, stay tuned for our next themed competition, FotoTexas: People, Places & Culture , to be juried by Laura Wilson. This competition will seek images that celebrate the rich history, culture, people, icons, and landscape of Texas and will exhibit at the Museum of the Big Bend in Alpine, Texas. You can expect to see this call open for entry later this month.

Looking ahead for 2018, we are absolutely thrilled to launch a new online portfolio review program for TPS members. And, you can anticipate more Member Print Share & Socials to take place across the state of Texas. The next one will be held March 1, 2018, from 7-9:00pm at Dallas Center for Photography. So, bring yourself and your work!

As always, we are honored to showcase another outstanding suite of five prints by five extraordinary contemporary photographers for our 2018 Members’ Print Program. These prints are available to all who join or renew their membership with TPS at any Print Program level. Here is a preview….

©Emmitt Booher

Title: Jornada del Muerto
Size: 8″ x 10″ Image Size [Matted 11″ x 14″]
Medium: Archival Pigment Print
Limited Edition: 25

©Christopher James

Title: Gellért Baths, Budapest –1983
Size: 8″ x 9.5″ Image Size
Medium: Archival Pigment Print
Limited Edition: 20

©Wendi Schneider

Title: Rough Legged Hawk
Size: 10″ x 5.3″ Image Size
Medium: Archival Pigment Print
Limited Edition: 20

©Krista Steinke

Title: Branch
Size: 10″ x 10″ Image Size
Medium: Archival Pigment Print
Limited Edition: 20

©Ashton Thornhill

Title: Nineteen Hay Bales
Size: 11″ x 11″ Image Size [Matted 16″ x 16″]
Medium: Archival Pigment Print
Limited Edition: 20

Thank you Amy for all you do for photography!